HISTORrC 

ROMANCE- 
OP 

ANCIENT 
MEXICO 


Graham 


QUETZALCOHUATL— THE  TOLTEC   SAVIOR 


THE  TOLTEC 

SAVIOR 


A  HISTORICAL  ROMANCE  OF 
ANCIENT  MEXICO 

BY 

MRS.  JOHN  ELLSWORTH  GRAHAM 


G.  W.  DILLINGHAM  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS  NEW  YORK 


COPYRIGHT  1901,  BY 
MRS.  JOHN  ELLSWORTH  GRAHAM, 

[All  rights  reserved^ 


The  Toltec  Savior. 


tO 


r  • 

TO 

X 

THE    ILLUSTRIOUS    AND     PROGRESSIVE   PRESIDENT   OF 

THE    MEXICAN    REPUBLIC, 

GENERAL  PORFIRIO  DIAZ, 

I    RESPECTFULLY 
DEDICATE  THIS  BOOK. 

Mrs.  John  Ellsworth  Graham. 


PREFACE. 


Previous  to  the  Greek  invasion,  ancient  Egyptians 
knew  nothing  whatever  of  the  valuable  uses  of  iron;  the 
peculiar  formation  of  the  soil  of  Egypt  produced  none  of 
that  mineral,  but  they  were  adepts  in  the  manipulation 
of  copper  and  tin  to  make  bronze,  tempered  in  a  certain 
manner,  with  which  they  cut  and  carved  rocks  of  adaman- 
tine properties. 

In  Mexico  there  are  mountains  of  iron,  but  the  highly 
civilized  and  progressive  Toltecs  knew  none  of  its  uses; 
not  one  bar,  blade  or  bolt  of  iron  can  be  found  in  the  an- 
cient ruins  of  Mexico,  Central  or  South  America.  They 
also  knew  the  secret  of  preparing  a  cement  impervious  to 
decay  known  only  to  the  ancient  Egyptians  (which  with 
the  above  mentioned  bronze  is  now  a  lost  art)  with  which 
they  lined  mammoth  reservoirs  or  zonotes  which  were 
first  paved  with  cobble-tones,  then  cemented  together, 
which  remain  as  the  beds  of  lakes  in  Mexico  today. 

And  Palpan  heights  herein  mentioned  was  situated  up- 
on the  hill  of  Guadelupe  at  the  City  of  Mexico  and  the 
cavern  of  the  Toltec  prophet  Hueman  was  located  upon  a 
rugged  mountain  directly  opposite,  from  which  led  a 
stone  stairway  down  into  the  beautiful  onyx  palace  con- 

[7] 


8  PREFACE 

taining  the  enormous  treasures  of  the  Toltecs,  which  were; 
the  accumulation  of  centuries  of  tributes  awaiting  the 
messenger  from  Sunland,  were  buried  by  an  earthquake 
which  changed  the  topography  of  that  portion  of  the 
country  and  the  location  of  the  vast  treasures  have  never 
been  found;  perhaps  they  may  yet  be  discovered  in 
some  labrynth  like  that  of  Crete  which  Virgil  immortal- 
ized in  these  wprds : 

"And  as  the  Cretan  labrynth  of  old 

With  wandering  ways  and  many  a  winding  fold 

Involved  the  weary  feet  without  redress 

In  a  round  error  which  denied  recess ; 

Not  far  from  thence,  he  graved  the  wondrous  maze 

A  thousand  doors,  a  thousand  winding  ways." 

— Author- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HUEMAN*  the  agedToltec  prophet  leaned  heavily  upon 
his  staff  as  he  gazed  earnestly  and  admiringly  upon  the 
beautiful  vale  of  Tollantzingo  clothed  in  the  weird  and 
mysterious  light  of  the  pale  full  moon ;  some  latent  forces 
of  his  feeble  frame  were  called  into  action,  his  staff  fell 
ringing  upon  the  solid  floor  of  stone  unheeded  as  he  raised 
his  long  thin  arms  beseechingly  toward  heaven  and  fixed 
his  dark  deep  flashing  eyes  upon  the  orb  of  night  ex- 
claiming— "Tezcatliquina,  may  you  never  shine  upon  fair 
Tollan  in  ruins!  while  I  yet  live;"  then  turned  his  en- 
raptured gaze  upon  the  evening  star  in  all  its  brilliancy 
and  murmured  softly  "Quetzalcoahtl,  oh  aid  me  to  change 
the  threatened  destiny  of  our  noble  race."  A  thin  veil  of 
ether  draped  the  face  of  night  as  if  in  sorrow,  and  a  low 
wailing  requiem  of  belated  zephyrs  whispered  through 
the  beckoning  branches  a  dreary  No ! 

The  aged  priest  shivered  and  sank  tremblingly  down 
beside  his  staff  at  the  entrance  to  his  cavern  home,  where 
he  read  the  story  of  the  stars,  and  at  the  base  of  whicH 

*  See  full  list  of  names  in  Appendix. 

[9] 


IO  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

he  rehearsed  the  destiny  of  those  whose  horoscope  he  was 
pleased  to  reveal.  A  clear  ringing  thrush-like  voice 
awoke  his  solemn  reverie  and  he  slowly  descended  the 
hewn  stairway  and  welcomed  a  beautiful  Toltec  maiden 
who  exclaimed  banteringly,  "Oh,  Hueman,  why  linger 
here  in  solitude  when  our  beautiful  city  is  aglow  with 
festivities;  come,  my  father  awaits  us  at  the  gate  to  the 
moat,  and  his  skiff  will  soon  bear  us  across.  You  ob- 
serve that  I  have  ventured  here  alone  that  you  could  not 
find  heart  to  refuse  to  accompany  me." 

"Who  could  refuse  so  fair  a  pleader?  Not  myself,  al- 
though feeble  with  age;  what  impulse  urged  you  to  re- 
member me  to- night,  fair  Xochitl,  when  there  are  so  many 
gallant  youths  in  the  Tollan  kingdom  who  would  gladly 
follow  wherever  you  may  lead  or  haste  to  do  your  bid- 
ding at  whatever  sacrifice?" 

"Dear  Hueman,  there  is  no  brave  in  Tollantzingo  to- 
night, who  can  interest  me  for  a  moment,  while  you  will 
kindly  spare  me  a  few  treasured  words  for  my  hungry 
soul  to  feast  upon.  I  have  wondered  that  you  did  not 
give  me  some  gentle  hint  that  you  had  read  the  stars  for 
me  and  knew  the  secret  joy  my  bosom  hides  which  I  fear 
will  bubble  forth  at  times  and  sound  the  tocsin  of  its  be- 
atitude to  the  world — and  yet  to  you,  Hueman,  I  owe 
the  marvelous  curb  you  call  discretion,  which  in  infancy 
you  patiently  explained  me  how  to  use.  Oh,  how  I  love 
to  linger  on  the  manly  vision  that  enthralls  my  soul,  my 
wildest  heights  and  depths  of  perfect  love  are  being 
sweetly  realized,  and  I  daily  compare  him  to  the  noblest, 
worthiest  and  most  exalted  of  our  proud  ancestors  in 
whose  history  I  am  so  deeply  interested,  and  of  whose 
worthy  exploits  I  may  not  learn  except  from  you,  and  can 
I,  dare  I  hope  that  in  the  near  future  this  one  great 
boon  may  be  granted  me  ?" 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  1 1 

"Yes,  dear  Xochitl,  tomorrow,  if  the  Supreme  Deity 
so  wills  it,  I  shall  begin  to  tell  you  all  of  the  incidents 
of  note  regarding  our  favored  ancestors  whose  biogra- 
phies I  have  compiled  from  indisputable  records  handed 
down  from  the  remotest  period  of  Toltec  reign,  and  I 
have  named  it  the  "Teoamoxtli,"  and  I  am  daily  adding 
all  of  the  events  which  transpire  worthy  of  record,  that 
future  generations  may  know  that  for  long  centuries  we 
were  a  mighty  and  favored  race,  but  alas,  the  corroding 
rust  of  retrogression  has  already  cast  its  debasing  in- 
fluence abroad  Tollan,  and  I  fear  there  are  but  few  who 
will  appreciate  the  value  of  my  years  of  ceaseless  toil  in 
their  behalf,  for  a  spirit  of  levity  and  wanton  prodigality 
marks  the  present  era  destroying  the  loyal  spirit  and 
earnest  purpose  which  marked  the  prosperous  days  gone 
by;  but,  gentle  maiden,  your  half  revealed  heart's  treas- 
ure is  almost  a  rebuke  to  my  sense  of  penetration,  and  I 
fear  me  that  my  soul  is  not  pure  enough  or  pruned  of 
evil  thought,  despite  my  daily  care  and  constant  wish  to 
be  more  sanctified,  but,  dear  winsome  child,  I  would  you 
had  not  taken  life  so  seriously  as  yet,  my  plans  for  you, 
of  which  I  had  not  sought  your  august  wish,  are  half 
matured,  and  I  had  hoped  you  were  as  yet  all  fancy  free, 
but  you  are  wise  beyond  your  years  and  sensible,  and 
woe  be  unto  all  this  threatened  race  if  virgin  youth  re- 
fuse to  aid  in  saving  their  proud  nation  from  decay  I" 

"Dear  Hueman,  I  fear  you  take  too  sad  a  view  of  all 
our  present  surroundings,  everything  looks  so  prosper- 
ous to  me,  and  it  is  moons  and  moons  since  our  reserved 
braves  have  been  called  into  united  action  against  our 
forceful  enemies ;  our  harvests  are  abundant  and  our  fruit 
trees  are  laden,  and  good  Tlaloc  has  showered  generous 
rain  upon  our  kingdom,  and  all  seems  prosperous  and 
well.  I  fear  that  you  are  growing  ill  from  continually 


12  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

brooding  over  the  language  of  the  stars — do  strive  to 
forget  it  all  as  we  hasten  to  the  brilliance  and  gaiety  of 
our  charming  Tollantzingo." 

"I  will  for  your  sake  strive  to  do  so,  Xochitl,  but  the 
scenes  which  will  be  enacted  tonight  will  carry  my  indig- 
nant soul  back  over  the  ages  to  him,  the  self-martyred 
Savior!  who  gave  up  all,  all,  that  the  memory  of  his 
noble  sacrifice  might  live  as  a  beacon-light  fixed  in  the 
heavens  to  guide  the  Toltec  nation  into  paths  of  justice 
and  truth,  and  inspire  them  to  greater  deeds,  as  he  longed 
for  them  to  progress  with  time." 

"It  has,  and  does  inspire  them,  Hueman;  the  play  is 
so  vitally  tragic,  but  the  king  chooses  a  poor  leading 
actor  for  such  an  imposing  character  in  allowing  his 
clumsy  brother  Maxtlatzin  to  carry  out  that  sacred  role — 
I  have  heard  so  many  murmurs  of  dissent." 

"Oh,  Xochitl,  would  that  were  the  only  blunder  the 
haughty  Tecpantcaltzin  makes!  He  is  daily  adding  fuel 
to  dissensions  by  his  indifference  to  the  public  needs  while 
we  are  enjoying  days  of  prosperity  and  abundant  har- 
vests, and  this  is  of  greater  moment  to  us  all  than  the 
feeble  portrayal  of  our  sacred  drama  now."  They  enter- 
ed the  canoe  which  was  manned  by  Papantzin,  the  father 
of  Xochitl,  and  as  they  neared  the  opposite  shore  they 
were  met  by  two  of  the  king's  guards  who  exclaimed : 

"We  gladly  salute  you,  oh  good  prophet  Hueman,  and 
congratulate  you  upon  your  timely  appearance,  just  at 
the  precise  moment  when  you  are  most  necessary  to  the 
king  and  all  of  his  assembled  multitude ;  Prince  Maxtl- 
atzin is  taken  ill  of  a  fever  and  is  unable  to  carry  out 
the  program  for  tonight's  entertainment,  and  no  one  but 
your  worthy  self  can  know  the  part  as  well,  and  the  king- 
bids  you  hasten  to  the  palace  and  prepare  to  lead  in  the 
sacred  play." 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  1 3 

For  a  moment  only  the  aged  priest  hesitated,  for  his 
soul  was  galled  at  the  imperative  command  from  the 
usurper  alien  king,  but  his  loyal  heart  yearned  toward 
those  misguided  subjects  assembled  in  willing  and  re- 
spectful obedience  to  the  annual  invitation  to  witness  the 
important  drama.  His  thin  lips  moved  convulsively  while 
an  urging  spirit  battled  bravely  and  at  last  triumphantly; 
he  knew  there  were  mighty  forces  struggling  within  him 
that  called  into  action  would  make  the  revered  Savior  of 
the  Toltec  nation  live  again ;  with  an  inspired  and  gentle 
countenance  he  answered  in  a  firm  impassioned  voice — 
''Yes,  I  do  know  the  play,  and  will  undertake  the  por- 
trayal of  the  sacred  martyr." 

A  low  thrilling  murmur  of  applause  fell  from  the  lips 
of  the  Toltec  maiden,  and  was  echoed  by  her  father  and 
the  guards  as  they  led  the  way  to  the  palace  through 
spacious  grounds  luxuriant  with  rare  and  beautiful  flow- 
ers exhaling  sweet  aroma  which  the  gentle  zephyrs  lifted 
and  carried  away. 

"Oh,  Hueman,  Hueman,  what  would  I  not  give  to 
have  one  peep,  just  one,  into  the  golden  garden  of  the 
Sun-god !" 

"Your  wish  shall  be  granted.  Guards,  move  on  and 
await  our  coming  at  the  threshold  of  the  palace.  Follow 
me,  Papantzin,  with  your  child."  He  turned  abruptly  from 
the  main  pathway  entering  a  narrow  and  more  secluded 
one  banked  high  on  either  side  with  stunted  hedges  over 
which  trailing  roses  reared  their  shy  delicate  faces,  and 
breathed  forth  a  delicious  welcome.  A  clump  of  hedge, 
more  dense  than  that  which  lined  the  graveled  walk,  rear- 
ed itself  against  a  solid  wall  of  masonry  where  the  path 
curved  and  glided  toward  the  sheeny  waters  of  the  moon- 
kissed  moat. 

The  prophet  drew  a  deep  sigh,  and  his  gentle  hushed 


14  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

voice  quavered  as  he  exclaimed :  "Long  years  have  passed 
carrying  the  burden  of  their  joys  and  sorrows  into  eter- 
nity since  my  feet  have  trodden  this  sequestered  way,  and 
he  whose  misguided  rule  retards  the  progression  of  Tol- 
lan  to-day  knows  not  of  this  secret  entrance  to  the  golden 
garden  of  the  sun-god.  I  command  you,  my  friends,  to 
keep  the  knowledge  of  this  privilege  which  I  grant  you 
now,  locked  securely  in  your  bosoms.  We  are  three"  He 
tore  the  clinging  tendrils  of  the  matted  hedge  aside  care- 
fully, revealing  naught  to  the  wondering  gaze  of  his  two 
guests  but  a  solid  wall  of  stone,  a  continuation  of  which 
surrounded  that  particular  portion  of  the  palace  grounds ; 
he  placed  his  right  shoulder  firmly  against  a  certain  por- 
tion of  the  smooth  wall  and  exclaimed  in  a  low  pathetic 
and  impressive  tone — "Quetzalcoahtl,  in  thy  sacred  name 
I  demand  entrance  to  the  golden  garden  of  the  sun-god" 
Slowly  the  stone  rolled  away,  revealing  a  bent  and  aged 
guard  who  startled  with  upraised  hands  and  voice  thick 
with  emotion  and  alarm  cried  out,  "Hueman,  the  gods 
be  praised — and  now  the  time  has  come !" 

"No,  no,  not  yet,  Zantzintl,  lead  the  way,  I  am  obey- 
ing the  fulfillment  of  a  prophecy."  He  beckoned  his 
friends  to  follow,  and  the  revolving  rock  swung  noise- 
lessly back  into  place  disclosing  no  apparent  seam  in  the 
perfect  masonry. 

For  a  moment  the  blazing  scene  dazzled  the  wondering 
gaze  of  the  beholders,  made  brilliant  by  myriads  of  cu- 
cuyous  that  clung  to  the  golden  statues  of  former  kings 
that  stood  majestically  among  the  plants  and  shrubbery 
cunningly  devised  of  threads  and  leaves  and  stalks  of 
gold;  every  choice  blossom,  every  form  of  grain,  each 
blade  of  grass  and  trailing  vines  fruit-laden,  were  there 
reproduced  in  shining  gleaming  gold.  Spellbound, 
Xochitl  gazed  and  gazed  in  speechless  awe  and  admira- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  I  5 

tion  until  the  prophet  aroused  her  with  these  words: 
"Fair  maiden,  could  you  ever  tire  of  reveling  here?" 

"Not — no  good  Hueman,  not  if  he  whom  I  love  where 
here  to  share  my  ecstasy  which  is  incomplete  without 
him."  A  look  of  annoyance  crossed  the  face  of  the  aged 
prophet,  and  he  impatiently  turned  toward  the  guard 
saying,  "Zantzintl,  lead  us  through  the  temple,  and  we 
will  then  depart."  The  temple  foundation  was  made  of 
beautifully  carved  onyx,  and  the  sides  and  roof  were  made 
of  sheets  of  solid  gold. 

"Yonder,  Xochitl,  on  the  side  toward  the  rising  sun  is 
a  mysterious  panel  upon  which  is  inscribed  in  oracles 
and  enigmas  the  welcoming  message  of  the  Sun-god  when 
he  makes  his  arrival,  and  it  reveals  also  the  hidden  lab- 
rynth  where  the  treasure-house  is  situated.  To  the  casual 
eye  it  tells  naught,  to  this  alien  king  it  is  a  blank — but 
when  the  last  rays  of  dying-  day  light  up  this  blazing  edi- 
fice each  word  stands  forth  clear  and  legible  to  him  who 
knows.  Zantzintl,  the  hand  of  time  has  seared  your  locks 
with  silver  and  enfeebled  your  once  stalwart  frame  and 
your  successor  must  soon  be  sworn  in." 

"Yes,  Hueman,  and  may  I  suggest  to  you  and  our 
brotherhood  the  name  of  my  son?  He  is  worthy,  good 
Hueman,  and  will  be  faithful  unto  death !  even  as  I." 

"Well  and  good — he  shall  have  the  appointment,  and 
I,  too,  needs  must  find  a  successor  who  will  carry  the 
secrets  of  the  Toltec  royal  line  in  his  bosom  even  as  I 
have  done,  and  he  is  one  whom  you  well  know,  my  near- 
est, dearest  kin,  brave  young  Topiltzin.  Xochitl,  how 
your  dark  glowing  eyes  do  sparkle,  and  with  what  joy 
your  bosom  heaves  at  sight  of  all  this  splendor,  and  dear, 
I  fondly  believe  that  you  will  one  day  willingly  become 
possessed  of  the  gracious  privilege  of  roaming  in  this 
wonderful  and  beautiful  garden  at  will.  The  entrance 


1 6  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

from  here  to  the  palace  is  gorgeous  beyond  compare,  and 
I  trust  that  some  day  I  may  lead  you  hither  in  triumph." 
A  wave  of  crimson  diffused  the  expressive  features  of 
the  excited  maiden  who  glanced  up  shyly  into  her  father's 
fondly  beaming  countenance. 

"Zantzintl,  does  the  king  often  wander  here  of  late?" 
"Some  days  pass  by  without  his  presence  here." 
"Has   he   ever    seemed   to   see,    suspect  or   strive   to 
search  a  secret  here?" 

"No,  honored  prophet,  never;  he  comes  when  his  brain 
is  clouded  thick  and  heavy  with  wine,  and  gloats  over  his 
golden  possessions,  and  compares  his  ungainly  figure  to 
those  superb  forms,  outlined  in  chiseled  gold,  of  our  proud 
ancestral  kings,  whose  unsullied  lives  should  be  an  endless 
reproof  to  him." 

"Zantzintl,  keeper  of  the  golden  gods,  be  ever  alert 
and  on  your  guard!  Never  allow  him  to  conjecture  here. 
Prattle  of  the  wonderful  achievements  which  former  kings 
have  wrought,  and  encourage  him  to  attempt  a  repetition 
of  their  gracious  acts  that  his  narrow,  sordid  soul  may 
possibly  .expand  sufficiently  to  receive  and  appreciate  the 
value  of  a  noble  sacrifice ;  entertain  him  most  assiduously 
until  each  visit  here  is  ended." 

"Have  no  fear  of  my  becoming  unworthy  of  my  calling, 
wise  Hueman,  I  shall  never  cease  to  remember  my  sol- 
emn oath,  and  should  I  be  compelled  through  infirmity 
to  relinquish  my  position  to  my  favored  son  he  too  shall — 
through  my  instructions — merit  the  exalted  position 
which  I  now  hold." 

"It  is  well,  Zantzintl,  we  will  now  depart,  adieu." 

Then  they  emerged  from  the  golden  garden  of  the 

gods,  and  the  prophet  carefully  trained  the  creeping  vines 

and  tendrils  across  the  secret  entrance  and  led  the  favored 

pair  back  to  the  public  gateway  to  the  palace,  where  they 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  I? 

joined  the  eager  crowd  that  parted  respectfully  for  the 
stately  prophet  to  pass,  and  his  step  grew  firmer  each  mo- 
ment as  he  neared  the  palace  door. 

The  burden  of  the  play  was  the  death  of  the  Toltec 
Savior,  the  immortal  Quetzalcoahtl :  he  had  reigned 
many  centuries  previously,  and  under  his  judicious  man- 
agement the  Toltecs  had  prospered  more  than  they  had 
ever  done  since  the  days  of  Votan,  the  renowned  dis- 
coverer of  the  continent  inhabited  by  the  untutored  peace- 
ful Maya  race. 

Previous  to  his  coronation  he  had  carefully  studied  the 
kingdom's  needs  and  planned  to  supply  them,  and  through 
his  instructions  the  city  of  Tollantzingo  "became  a  fairy- 
land of  beauty,  and  a  monument  of  architecture  endur- 
ing as  the  chiseled  rocks  of  which  they  were  composed; 
he  taught  them  to  prepare  rafts  upon  which  were  arrang- 
ed beautiful  floating  gardens  containing  choicest  and 
most  beautiful  flowers,  also  vegetables  of  many  varieties. 
He  learned  the  symbols  and  enigmas  of  divine  worship 
"by  especial  dispensation  from  the  great  high  priest,  a 
privilege  accorded  to  no  other  king  since  the  reign  of 
Votan. 

He  added  to  the  system  of  canals  for  irrigating  pur- 
poses, and  planned  massive  stone  bridges  across  deep  ra- 
vines and  plunging  streams;  he  sent  colonies  of  mission- 
aries to  the  far  north  to  civilize  the  natives  of  that  por- 
tion of  the  continent  that  their  progressive  influence 
might  be  felt  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land ;  he  made 
a  law  that  the  Toltecs  should  never  destroy  their  exalted 
prestige  by  mingling  through  marriage  with  any  other 
nation,  that  if  through  surprise  or  accident,  such  a  cal- 
amity did  occur  that  the  progeny  of  such  a  union  should 
be  put  to  death.  He  admonished  them  to  be  consistant 
and  moderate  in  all  things,  to  advance  in  every  science, 


1 8  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

and  allow  no  branch  of  progression  to  decay,  and  fearless- 
ly follow  and  abide  by  the  old  religion  and  the  sacred 
laws  of  justice  and  truth,  and  he  repeatedly  warned 
them  of  the  terrible  fate  that  overcame  the  near-by  con- 
tinent inhabited  by  a  mighty  race  of  warring  giants — of 
whom  the  powerful  Quinimas  were  descendants — who 
were  punished  by  the  Supreme  Deity  who  could  no  longer 
tolerate  their  avaricious  wickedness,  and  sent  a  fearful 
cataclysm  which  buried  them  and  their  land  forever  be- 
neath the  waves  of  the  ocean. 

He  repeatedly  warned  them  against  the  fearful  conse- 
quence of  hostility  and  avarice,  and  cautioned  them  to  be 
provident  of  the  tribute  to  the  messenger  from  Sunland, 
and  to  arbitrate  every  grievance  peacefully  that  their 
worthy  example  should  forever  please  the  Supreme  Deity 
that  they  need  never  then  fear  that  his  judgment  would 
be  visited  upon  them  to  their  annihilation. 

To  the  secret  brotherhood,  of  whom  he  was  chief,  he 
dedicated  all  of  his  personal  wealth,  and  every  wall  of 
their  magnificent  underground  palace  halls  were  marked 
by  his  generous  munificence.  When  the  end  of  his  reign 
drew  near,  which  had  extended  over  the  usual  period  of 
fifty-two  years,  he  became  inspired  of  a  firm  resolve  to 
leave  a  lasting  impression  upon  his  subjects  which  would 
always  encourage  them  to  observe  and  uphold  the  laws 
and  create  a  feeling  of  veneration  in  their  bosoms  for  the 
sciences  and  progression,  and  prove  to  them  the  immor- 
tality of  the  soul. 

He  carefully  kept  up  the  records  of  his  people,  and 
every  portion  of  the  kingdom  felt  the  infinite  wisdom  of 
his  flourishing  reign  which  was  marked  by  the  most  ab- 
ject devotion  of  his  subjects  who  worshipped  him  as  a 
god. 

During  the  early  part  of  his  reign  he  planned  four  min- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  1 9 

ature  temples,  which  were  erected  upon  his  palace 
grounds  upon  grassy  knolls  banked  with  flowers. 

One  was  made  of  odoriferous  wood  which  was  painted 
an  emerald  color  in  imitation  of  waves,  and  within  it 
was  placed  Tlaloc,  the  god  of  rain. 

The  second  one  was  made  of  coral,  of  a  deep,  rich  hue, 
and  within  it  was  placed  Huitzilopochtli,  the  god  of  war, 
to  which  was  given  great  tribute  and  offerings  to  insure 
peace  in  the  kingdom. 

The  third  one  was  made  of  pale  pink  ocean  shells, 
riveted  with  gold  upon  slabs  of  odoriferous  wood,  and 
within  it  was  placed  Tezcatlipoca,  the  sun-god,  which  was 
more  revered  than  any  other  god,  representing  the  gate- 
Iceeper  to  Sunland,  the  abode  of  the  Supreme  Deity. 

The  fourth  one  was  made  of  the  most  beautiful  feathers 
secured  upon  broad  bands  of  cotton  cloth,  sewed  together 
with  fibres  of  maguey,  and  within  it  was  placed  the  idol 
Tonacatexuhtli,  the  sun  flame. 

A  hush  intense  fell  upon  the  assembled  multitude  who 
waited  with  baited  breath  the  appearance  of  the  prophet, 
for  it  was  soon  whispered  about  that  he  would  take  the 
part  of  the  Toltec  Savior. 

With  stern  majestic  tread  and  grand  imposing  mien, 
the  prophet  advanced  upon  the  scene  while  a  low  mur- 
mur of  applause  rippled  through  the  impatient  crowd 
that  was  soon  hushed  with  expectancy. 

He  wore  a  long,  white  flowing  robe,  heavily  and  richly 
embroidered  with  threads  of  silver  and  gold;  his  long 
frosted  hair  fell  in  loose  ringlets  about  his  massive 
shoulders  and  nestled  upon  his  heaving  bosom  mingling1 
with  his  sweeping  beard. 

When  he  reached  the  center  of  the  arena  he  bowed 
kindly  to  the  eager  multitude,  who  heartily  cheered  his 
presence,  drowning  the  strains  of  music,  until  he  motion- 


2O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

ed  them  to  be  still,  and  the  music  sank  to  a  low  sweet 
melody;  in  a  commanding  voice,  he  exclaimed:  "Bring 
hither  my  tepetlacalli  which  is  prepared  for  me" — as  he 
uttered  these  words  the  guards  departed,  and  the  twelve 
gods  and  goddesses  advanced  to  do  him  honor.  Tezcat- 
lipoca,  the  sun-god,  wore  a  heavily  embroidered  yellow 
robe  and  carried  a  flagellum  in  his  hand,  and  upon  his 
head  he  wore  a  minature  sun  of  gold;  his  principal  of- 
fice was  to  judge  the  dead  by  his  divine  goodness,  and 
to  rule  over  the  kingdom  of  Sunland  into  which  the  souls 
of  the  good  were  admitted. 

Tezcatliquina,  the  moon-god,  wore  a  robe  of  white, 
heavily  embroidered  in  silver  threads,  and  wore  a  dial 
of  silver  upon  his  head  and  carried  a  rod  of  silver  in  his 
right  hand,  and  wore  wide  armlets  of  silver  upon  each 
wrist. 

Huitzilopochtli,  the  god  of  war,  wore  a  red  robe,  a 
coronet  of  beautiful  feathers,  and  carried  a  trident  of  gold 
in  his  right  hand  and  wore  armlets  of  gold  upon  each 
wrist,  and  double  necklaces  of  gold  set  with  beautiful 
gems  about  his  throat. 

Tlaloc,  the  god  of  rain,  wore  a  robe  of  pale  green, 
trimmed  heavily  with  fringe  of  a  deeper  shade  and  a 
crown  of  lilies  upon  his  head,  and  carried  a  wonderfully 
woven  basket  to  which  was  attached  two  chains,  one  of 
which  he  held  aloft  with  his  right  hand,  and  with  his  left 
he  pressed  the  other  chain  to  his  bosom;  the  unique 
basket  appeared  to  be  formed  of  large  and  beautiful 
plumes,  and  within  it  was  the  human-headed  soul-bird. 

Apizteotl,  the  god  of  hunger,  wore  a  robe  of  pale  blue 
trimmed  with  leaves  and  threads  of  silver  and  gold,  and 
carried  a  vase  of  gold  in  his  right  hand  which  contained 
the  charm  of  life. 

Xochiquetzalli,  the  god  of  love,  wore  a  robe  of  rose- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  21 

colored  pink  and  a  crown  of  roses,  wide  armlets  of  gold 
upon  each  wrist,  and  a  beautiful  necklace  of  gold  with 
long  pendants  set  with  precious  gems.  The  goddesses 
were  all  dressed  in  white  robes  heavily  embroidered  in 
silver  and  gold  with  deep  fringe  of  the  same  extending 
from  the  left  shoulder  diagonally  across  to  the  right  hip, 
and  wore  precious  jewels  of  every  description. 

The  moment  the  guards  returned  with  a  handsomely 
carved  receptacle  of  onyx,  Quetzalpetlatzin,  the  wife  of 
Quetzalcohuatl,  rushed  upon  the  scene  exclaiming  as  she 
knelt  in  supplication:  "Oh,  no,  no!  not  that — send  it 
away,  the  time  is  not  yet  arrived."  "Peace,  my  good 
woman,  let  not  your  soul  be  troubled,  the  spirit  of  the 
Supreme  Deity  urges  me  and  I  shall  cheerfully  obey  the 
welcome  mandate  from  on  high." 

"No,  no,  not  yet,  my  own!  the  holy  spirit  is  lenient, 
is  patient,  kind,  merciful — oh,  be  thou  thus  to  me! — spare 
me  a  few  more  years  of  earthly  joy;  come,  let  us  wan- 
der once  again  among  the  temples  and  in  the  golden  gar- 
den of  the  sun  god." 

"Nay,  tempt  me  not,  this  is  the  accepted  time,  were  no 
allurements  left  behind  I  had  made  no  sacrifice." 

Overcome  by  the  utter  hopelessness  of  her  plea  the 
queen  sank  fainting  at  his  feet,  and  was  tenderly  lifted 
and  borne  away  by  the  guards  whom  the  king  command- 
ed to  carry  her  to  the  palace,  and  he  gazed  lingeringly  and 
lovingly  upon  the  still  beautiful  face,  and  then  he  bowed 
his  head  as  if  in  meek  submission  to  the  invisible  forces 
that  urged  him  on,  then  raising  his  impassioned  voice  in 
pleading  supplication  he  exclaimed:  "Oh,  thou  Supreme 
Deity!  Who  wisely  rules  the  universe;  who  holds  the 
heavens  in  space  and  supplies  the  wants  of  earth,  let  not 
our  beloved  race  forget  that  I  gladly  give  up  my  life  to 
save  the  children  of  our  faith  from  misguided  rule ;  may; 


22  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

they  for  many  generations  yet  to  come  continue  the  good 
labor  of  advancement  in  Honor,  Justice  and  Truth;  may 
their  souls  never  become  diseased  with  ignorance!  nor 
their  heads  bowed  with  Shame — let  them  neglect  no  art 
nor  forget  one  science.  Forever  united  may  they  become  a 
staunch  insurmountable  barrier  between  ignorance  and 
vice  until  their  just  laws  and  divine  precepts  shall  peace- 
fully conquer  every  nation  and  tongue  which  will  effect- 
ually obliterate  the  cruel  necessity  of  war.  Oh,  Thou 
Ruler  of  the  infinite,  we  beseech  Thee  inspire  each  and 
every  one  to  do  Thy  will  cheerfully,  to  be  contented  with 
their  lot  and  never  strive  through  vain-glory  or  levity  to 
aspire  beyond  it.  May  I  thus  prove  to  them  that  the  soul 
cannot  die  though  the  heart  be  destroyed. 

Now  I  shall  lay  me  down  into  a  deep  sleep  which  shall 
last  for  four  days.  Into  Thy  gracious  keeping,  oh  thou 
Supreme  Deity,  I  commend  my  spirit."  As  his  solemn 
voice  died  away  he  gracefully  gathered  his  robe  about 
him  and  entered  the  sepulchre  and  folded  his  thin  hands 
restfully  across  his  placid  bosom,  and  the  curtain  fell 
amid  gentle  strains  of  music  soft  and  sweet  as  zephyrs. 

The  pent  up  feeling  of  the  multitude  at  length  found 
voice  in  cheers  that  reverberated  throughout  the  rose- 
crowned  vale.  In  the  following  scene  he  arose,  and  with 
enraptured  countenance  exclaimed:  "Beloved  children, 
the  pathway  which  leads  the  immortal  spirit  to  the  Sun 
is  beautiful  beyond  description  of  mortal  tongue;  but 
remember  all  evil  spirits  are  forever  barred  from  those 
realms  of  perfect  life,  it  is  not  your  lips  which  may  com- 
mune with  those  exalted  gods,  but  your  thoughts  alone. 
Now  let  the  silent  voices  of  your  soul  breathe  no  evil 
thought,  prune  them  of  every  foul  desire  and  you  will 
raise  an  insurmountable  barrier  about  your  being  which 
shall  be  made  manifest  to  all  with  whom  your  associa- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2  3 

tions  bear  you.  In  my  beautiful  dream  from  which  I  am 
just  awakened  I  am  proud  to  tell  you  that  my  soul  held 
communion  with  the  spirit  from  the  Sun  and  these  were 
his  impressive  words  which  he  sent  as  a  message  to  you 
all — "Raise  the  standard  of  your  being  beyond  the  limit 
of  being  born  again  by  keeping  your  thoughts  pure  and 
your  feet  will  never  stray  into  evil  ways  nor  your  hands 
wreak  vengeance  for  fancied  wrongs;  make  the  voices 
of  your  soul  harmonious  and  a  stranger  to  anger."  He 
then  bade  the  guards  gather  together  all  of  his  precious 
gems  and  mounted  jewels  and  shining  bars  of  gold  which 
they  placed  before  him  and  he  then  dismissed  them,  and 
bearing  heavily  against  a  revolving  rock  he  disclosed  a 
secret  passage  which  led  to  an  open  door  where  two 
priests  met  him  in  a  large  and  beautiful  room.  With 
great  care  and  labor  they  removed  the  enormous  pile  of 
shining  gold  and  glittering  gems  to  a  secure  underground 
chamber  which  was  piled  high  with  massive  golden  and 
silver  bars.  When  the  task  was  accomplished  he  return- 
ed alone  to  the  palace  grounds  and  entered  each  one  of 
his  temples  alternately  wherein  he  prayed  long  and  earn- 
estly ;  then  he  emerged  and  sang  in  a  low  sweet  thrilling 
tone: 

My  temple  of  rich  feathers  torn  from  many  a  birdling's 

breast. 
And  shells  the  ocean  waves  have  kissed  I  leave  for  other 

guests ; 

My  corals  always  blushing  in  the  moonlight  or  the  sun, 
With  my  treasures  and  my  palaces  I  am  forever  done ; 
I  go  to  hang  a  diamond  bright  in  dome  of  heaven  afar, 
Will  cheer  you  with  its  guardian  light  the  glorious  even- 
ing star. 

As  the  last  strains  died  away  he  raised  his  hands  in 


24  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

benediction  and  bade  his  sorrowing  friends  adieu  as  king, 
and  then  he  commanded  the  guards  to  bring  the  timbers. 
Meanwhile  the  great  high  priest  and  the  other  priests  in 
line  came  and  bade  him  an  affectionate  adieu  amid  groans 
and  lamentations  as  the  funeral  pyre  grew  higher  and 
still  higher  aided  by  his  skilful  willing  hands ;  when  it  was 
completed  he  signaled  a  guard  to  bring  a  flaming  ember 
and  himself  applied  the  torch  on  every  side,  and  then 
mounted  the  burning  structure,  and  in  an  attitude  of 
prayer  he  remained  resignedly  awaiting  his  doom. 

During  the  lapse  of  those  fearful  moments,  a  bevy  of 
beautiful  birds  of  paradise  hovered  around  the  funeral 
pyre  until  his  spirit  fled !  then  they  softly  fluttered  their 
dazzling  wings  and  soared  with  the  spirit  away  to  the 
heavenly  house  of  the  gods  where  it  remained  for  seven 
days  and  then  became  fixed  in  the  heavens  and  was  ever 
after  called  Quetzalcoahtl,  the  evening  star;  it  was  wor- 
shipped as  an  assurance  from  the  Toltec  Savior  that  his 
guardian  spirit  was  near  and  ever  watchful  to  provide 
the  faithful  ones  with  the  alluring  promise  of  life  eternal 
and  a  beacon,  lighting  up  the  path  to  the  heavens,  it  being 
the  first  gateway  on  the  journey  to  Sunland. 

So  vivid  and  terribly  real  did  the  prophet  portray  the 
tragical  drama  that  shrieks  and  groans  rang  from  the 
excited  multitude,  and  their  fears  and  demonstrations 
knew  no  bounds  until  the  noble  Hueman  again  appeared 
before  them  unharmed ;  then  the  swaying  crowd  as  with 
one  voice  cheered  itself  hoarse  with  admiration  and  ap-  ' 
plause.  Never  before  in  all  the  history  of  the  impressive 
play  had  an  actor  received  such  an  ovation.  It  was  tri- 
umphant, and  when  the  feast  which  followed  was  ended 
a  grand  concourse  of  admiring  friends  carried  the  prophet 
upon  their  shoulders  in  a  rose  embowered  canopy,  made 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2 5 

from  branches  of  the  cedar  tree,  to  the  base  of  his  cavern 
home. 

The  narrow  soul  of  King  Tecpantcaltzin  was  galled 
and  resentful  toward  the  tremendous  outburst  of  passion 
exhibited  toward  the  prophet  as  he  mentally  compared 
the  thin  wave  of  applause  which  yearly  greeted  the  efforts 
of  his  brother  Maxtlatzin,  who  had  long  been  privileged 
to  enact  the  important  role.  A  spasm  of  fear  contracted 
his  heart  and  brain  as  he  too  well  remembered  to  what 
sovereign  rights  the  Toltec  prophet  belonged ;  he  scourg- 
ed his  brain  with  regret  when  he  was  reminded  that  he 
alone  was  to  blame  for  calling  the  aged  and  beloved 
priest  into  such  marked  prominence ;  one  thought  alone 
was  reassuring  to  him,  he  knew  full  well  that  the  loyal 
Toltec  soul  housed  in  the  bosom  of  the  prophet  loved 
peace  far  more  than  princely  honors  or  kingly  privileges, 
and  he  formed  a  mental  resolution  to  close  any  further 
avenue  to  public  favor  for  noble  Hueman  in  the  future. 


26  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 


CHAPTER  II. 

"I  have  come  to  tell  you,  dear  Hueman,  that  the  burden 
of  speech  in  Tollantzingo  today  is  your  wonderfully  real- 
istic portrayal  of  our  sacred  drama  which  inspired  the 
nation  anew  and  awakened  latent  energies  in  the  hitherto 
dormant  bosoms  of  our  people,  and  they  declare  openly 
that  no  other  actor  can  again  officiate  at  the  feast  of  the 
lights  while  you  are  able  to  do  so." 

"That  privilege,  dear  Xochitl,  is  not  as  the  public 
wishes,  but  as  the  king  wills." 

"Surely  he  can  never  be  so  blind  and  selfish  as  to  force 
the  tame  efforts  of  clumsy  Maxtlatzin  upon  us  again  after 
we  have  seen  what  an  impressive  power  can  be  gathered 
from  the  part  properly  portrayed." 

"It  will  do  no  good  to  trouble  over  the  affair  now,  a 
year  will  soon  have  passed  and  great  changes  can  de- 
velop in  so  many  moons." 

"True,  indeed,  wise  Hueman,  I  am  rebuked  for  giving 
too  much  weight  to  things  so  utterly  beyond  my  control ; 
but  the  beautiful  burden  of  the  play  and  its  exalted  in- 
fluence was  never  made  so  manifest  as  now ;  you  aroused 
deeper  concern  in  the  bosoms  of  our  people  and  made 
clearer  the  purport  of  the  sacrifice  which  our  Savior  vol- 
untarily underwent.  Each  moment  my  yearning  desire 
grows  stronger  to  learn  more  of  our  progressive  ances- 
tors, and  this  is  one  of  the  impelling  forces  which 
brought  me  here,  and  I  humbly  trust  that  you  are  in  the 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2/ 

mood  to  extend  to  my  hungry  waiting  soul  the  rare  treat 
which  you  promised  at  y  ester  eventide." 

"Certainly,  child,  your  hunger  shall  be  appeased,  and 
gratified,  and  I  fondly  believe  that  you  will  cheerfully 
cast  aside  any  selfish  motive  which  may  now  enthrall  you 
as  a  beguiling  whim  and  nobly,  loyally  devote  your 
thoughts  and  wishes  to  perpetuate  the  newly  awakened 
interest  in  the  minds  of  our  people." 

"Oh,  Hueman,  do  you  really  wish  to  convince  me  that 
I  have  any  possible  power  to  exert  in  that  direction  ?" 

"Yes,  child,  within  you  lives  the  hope  of  our  nation." 

"Dear  Hueman,  your  seriousness  alarms  me — but  I 
am  ready  and  willing  to  do  my  part  if  I  can  clearly  see 
the  way." 

"You  are  verging  upon  the  sacred  path,  and  all  that 
will  be  required  of  you  is  within  your  power  to  fulfill; 
do  you  imagine  for  one  moment  that  I  would  have  led 
another  maiden  in  this  whole  kingdom  into  the  sealed, 
sequestered  and  forbidden  golden  garden  of  the  sun-god  ? 
Did  I  not  assure  the  faithful  old  guard  that  I  was  ful- 
filling a  prophesy?" 

"You  did,  Hueman,  and  I  have  wondered  at  my  tem- 
erity in  making  the  request  which  was  but  the  impulse  of 
the  moment." 

"It  was  an  impulse  which  I  planted  in  your  soul  at  the 
proper  time  and  place,  and  your  wish  was  mine  which 
you  o^ave  voice  to." 

"Oh,  what  marvelous  power  you  possess,  dear  Hu- 
eman, and  your  voice  has  the  soothing  cadence  of  the 
soughing  winds  which  lull  me  to  sleep,  and  I  am  proud 
to  do  your  bidding  at  whatever  sacrifice." 

"Sacrifice!  sacrifice,  child,  do  you  realize  what  you 
are  saying?" 

"I  believe  that  I  do,  Hueman,  I  trust  you  so  implicitly 


25  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

that  I  will  not  entertain  one  doubtful  thought  regarding 
your  wishes  which  would  seem  like  sacrilege  were  I  to  do 
so." 

"Remember  this,  Xochitl,  I  have  your  welfare  at  heart 
always,  even  as  I  have  that  of  my  nearest  kin,  but  my 
country  first  of  all !  to  promote  its  welfare  the  gods  may 
do  with  me  what  they  will." 

"You  are  excited,  dear  Hueman,  and  it  were  better 
that  we  abandon  the  traditions  of  our  ancestors." 

"Tradition !    No,  it  is  history !" 

"Pardon  me,  dear  Hueman,  the  expression  is  a  general 
one,  I  believe." 

"Yes,  he  who  does  not  care  to  emulate  those  noble 
deeds,  whose  cobwebbed  brain  shuts  out  an  honest  soul, 
has  endeavered  to  impress  upon  his  subjects  the  false  be- 
lief that  the  'Teoamoxtli'  is  tradition !  he  is  too  dwarfed 
and  cramped  in  mind  to  conceive  the  fact  that  those  bril- 
liant scintillating  souls  existed  in  the  flesh.  I  will  now 
read  to  you  from  those  truthful  records;  you  see  that  I 
have  them  here  and  was  just  adding  the  facts  pertaining 
to  the  feast  of  the  lights.  I  will  now  proceed  to  inform 
you  of  the  contents  of  the  Teoamoxtli. 

The  advent  of  Votan,  our  first  ancestor,  upon  these 
shores  was  a  thousand  and  'fifty-eight  years  previous 
to  the  reign  of  our  Savior,  Ouetzalcoahtl,  who  was  the 
last  sovereign  to  bear  that  sacred  name.  He  found  the 
country  inhabited  exclusively  by  Mayas,  many  of  whom 
were  giants,  and  they  spoke  a  universal  tongue.  Their 
ships  landed  near  the  mouth  of  the  Usumasinta  River, 
and  they  remained  there  for  a  period  of  four  years; 
there  were  about  fifty  in  number,  and  they  at  once 
began  the  task  of  learning  tHe  manner  of  speech  of  the 
dusky  natives  who  never  ceased  to  admire  the  fair  com- 
plexion of  their  guests,  who  taught  them  many  civilizing 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2Q 

pursuits  which  they  learned  with  alacrity.  The  giants 
were  called  Quinimas  on  account  of  their  height,  aver- 
aging from  eight  and  one-half  to  nine  feet ;  they  existed 
upon  raw  flesh,  roots,  berries  and  herbs,  and  were  clothed 
in  loin-cloths  of  pelt,  they  wandered  in  tribes  and  dwelt 
in  huts  made  of  branches. 

Votan  after  the  stated  time  returned  to  his  native  land, 
and  in  due  time  brought  a  colony  of  seven  ship-loads, 
including  all  classes  of  artisans,  for  he  had  become  aware 
of  the  fact  that  this  new  discovery  was  wonderful  in 
natural  resources.  In  reply  to  the  inquisitive  natives  as 
to  whence  he  came,  he  told  them  that  he  came  from  near 
a  land  where  the  people  had  attempted  to  build  a  tower  to 
the  heavens  and  that  the  Supreme  Deity  had  confused 
their  tongues  so  they  could  not  understand  each  other 
and  were  unable  to  proceed  with  the  wonderful  structure 
which  remained  as  a  menace  to  sacrilegious  undertakings. 

He  incited  in  the  breasts  of  the  powerful  Quinimas  a 
desire  to  hand  down  to  posterity  enduring  monuments 
of  their  wonderful  strength,  and  he  taught  them  how  to 
build  great  pyramids  after  the  manner  of  those  in  his 
native  land,  having  a  sepulchral  enclosure  within  them. 
He  founded  the  cities  of  Palenque,  Tulha,  Tsequil  and 
Mayapan  and  Itzmal,  naming  them  in  honor  of  the 
chiefs  whose  tribes  assisted  them  in  their  construction. 
During  this  time  he  encouraged  others  to  make  immense 
excavations  for  reservoirs  floored  with  stones  cemented 
together,  and  when  they  marveled  and  demurred  at  the 
tremendous  task,  he  assured  them  that  in  his  own  country 
they  had  built  the  largest  reservoir  ever  made  by  the  hand 
of  man  to  correct  the  overflow  of  a  mighty  river. 

The  religious  belief  taught  by  Votan  was  upon  a  mon- 
otheistic basis  and  he  had  brought  four  great  high  priests 
among  their  colonists  who  chose  capable  ones  from 


3O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

among  the  natives  to  whom  they  taught  mysteries,  signs 
and  oracles,  formalities  of  religion  and  forms  of  govern- 
ment; but  the  rare  distinction  vested  upon  the  few  nec- 
essary to  complete  the  priest-hood  caused  a  mutiny  which 
attempted  to  overthrow  the  government  and  many 
difficulties  arose  in  consequence. 

Sadly  disappointed  at  this  unlocked  for  rebellion,  Vo- 
tan  resolved,  after  a  period  of  thirty  years'  duration,  to 
separate  his  monarchy  into  several  divisions;  one  had 
for  its  capital  the  city  of  Tulha,  another  Tsequil,  another 
Mayapan  and  the  fourth  Itzmal. 

He  appointed  a  prince  from  among  the  colonists  to 
preside  over  them,  whose  name  was  prince  Zamna,  who 
resided  at  Mayapan,  and  the  whole  country  of  his  king- 
dom was  called  Maayha,  which  name  signifies  a  land 
without  water. 

Votan  then  made  a  second  voyage  to  his  native  land 
and  returned  with  his  seven  shiploads  of  new  colonists 
with  whom  he  resolved  to  locate  in  another  portion  of 
the  country  in  order  to  facilitate  the  advance  of  their  civ- 
ilizing influence. 

He  had  been  obliged  to  leave  his  native  land  hurriedly 
as  that  country  he  found  suffering  from  a  terrible  invas- 
ion from  which  he  feared  his  people  would  be  conquered, 
and  he  resolved  to  remain  in  the  country  of  his  adoption. 

The  friendly  and  powerful  Quinimas  who  had  roamed 
over  a  vast  area  of  the  continent,  described  to  Votan  the 
feasibility  of  travel  up  the  coast  which  would  bring  them 
to  the  mouth  of  a  mighty  river  which  their  ships  could 
enter  and  travel  for  quite  a  distance  inland,  where  there 
was  a  natural  harbor. 

Chief  Quinima  sent  a  band  of  his  men  overland  to  meet 
them  at  the  desired  landing  place  to  conduct  them  into 
the  interior,  which  they  desired  to  explore;  they  arrived 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  31 

and  moored  their  ships  at  a  secure  landing  place  and  fol- 
lowed their  guides  several  moons  through  a  vast  wilder- 
ness until  attracted  by  the  beautiful  location  of  a  charm- 
ing valley  in  which  gleamed  the  placid  waters  of  a  chain 
of  lakes,  the  first  of  which  they  named  Atechpanomoch- 
ocho,  in  honor  of  the  chief  whose  tribe  inhabited  the  vi- 
cinity; there  they  laid  the  foundation  for  a  great  city 
which  Votan  named  Tollantzingo  and  called  the  sur- 
rounding country  Tollan. 

Desiring  to  facilitate  communication  with  prince 
Zamna  and  further  the  advance  of  civilization  he  sent  a 
band  of  colonists  on  i:o  establish  themselves  midway  be- 
tween Maaya  and  Tollan ;  they  were  sent  under  the  lead- 
ership of  a  prince  appointed  by  Votan  named  Cukulcan; 
they  founded  a  city  in  the  new  domain  which  the  prince 
named  Huehue-Tlapallan,  in  honor  of  the  chief  whose 
tribe  assisted  them  in  building  and  improving  the  coun- 
try which  was  called  Tlapallan. 

The  Quinimas  were  devoted  and  admiring  followers  of 
Votan  and  affectionately  bestowed  upon  him  the  name  of 
Quetzalcoahtl,  which  name  signifies  king  and  great  high 
ruler  over  the  continent;  the  colonists  they  called  Tol- 
tecs,  which  name  signifies  the  builders;  they  electrified 
the  natives  with  their  skill  in  the  manipulation  of  var- 
ious metals  which  abounded  in  the  earth,  and  from  which 
they  formed  beautiful  ornaments  and  useful  implements 
with  which  they  were  taught  to  cut  and  carve  mighty 
rocks  from  which  they  constructed  enduring  edifices. 

At  Tollantzingo  the  first  sacrificial  stone  was  carved 
under  the  direction  of  Votan  and  the  great  high  priest, 
which  was  named  the  "Cuaxicalli-Tizoc ;"  when  it  was 
completed  they  formed  a  procession  led  by  the  great  high 
priest  and  Votan  to  one  of  the  towering  lava  mountains 
which  they  named  Popocatapetl,  where  they  secured  ob- 


32  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

sidian  with  which  to  fashion  the  sacrificial  blade.  The 
second  lava  mountain  they  named  Ixtaccihuatl,  which 
name  signifies  wife  of  the  one  that  furnished  the  first  sa- 
cred blade  and  the  third  one  they  named  Citlaltepetl, 
which  name  signifies  the  witness. 

There  being  no  domestic  animals  to  offer  up  in  sacri- 
fice as  was  customary  in  his  own  country,  Votan  com- 
manded certain  of  his  subjects  to  bring  a  serpent,  two 
birds,  two  butterflies,  fruits  and  flowers  to  their  newly 
made  temple  as  their  first  offering  to  the  Supreme  Deity 
upon  the  Cuaxicalli-Tizoc. 

A  beautiful  and  imposing  location  had  been  chosen  for 
the  erection  of  two  wonderful  temples,  one  of  which  was 
dedicated  to  the  Sun  and  one  to  the  moon  with  grand 
ceremonies  and  feasting. 

Underneath  these  structures  were  made  the  sepulchres 
for  the  kings  and  high-priests,  and  the  sacrificial  blade 
which  the  latter  had  used  was  always  buried  with  him  as 
each  newly  appointed  high-priest  was  commanded  to  use 
none  but  a  new  blade. 

Votan  had  brought  from  His  native  land  a  kind  of 
paper  which  he  explained  was  the  product  of  a  plant 
growing  there,  and  he  was  surprised  and  pleased  to  dis- 
cover a  similar  plant  growing  in  the  vale  of  Tollantzingo, 
which  he  saw  could  be  manipulated  to  the  same  important 
use  as  that  which  he  had  conveyed  thither  for  noting  the 
events  which  transpired  and  keeping  accounts  thereon. 

For  the  two  princes  Zamna  and  Cukulcan  he  formed  a 
code  of  laws  which  he  commanded  them  to  uphold  to  the 
letter  as  the  future  prosperity  of  the  nation  depended  up- 
on them ;  the  first  and  foremost  to  be  inaugurated  was  to 
build  immense  public  storehouses  where  sufficient  quan- 
tities of  provision  and  grain  should  be  deposited  in  order 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  33 

to  provide  against  the  possibility  of  a  famine  from  drouth 
or  failure  of  crops. 

He  wrote  three  explicit  accounts  of  their  discoveries 
and  adventures,  one  copy  of  which  he  forwarded  to  prince 
Zamna  with  the  code  of  laws  and  one  to  prince  Cukulcan, 
requesting  them  to  keep   adding   to   those   records    all 
events  of  interest  which  transpired  in  their  dominions, 
and  the  third  copy  he  placed  in  the  keeping  of  prince 
Icoatzin  at  Tollantzingo,  whom  he  had  appointed  keeper  j 
of  the  accounts  and  records  with  the  understanding  that  j 
he  should  succeed  him  in  power  when  the  term  of  his  of-  ! 
fice  expired,  which  alloted  period  was  fifty-two  years,  the 
same  as  in  his  native  land. 

Under  his  skillful  directions  the  temples  to  the  sun 
and  moon  were  built  in  a  gorgeous  manner  and  adorned 
lavishly.  The  temple  to  the  sun  was  roofed  with  thick 
plates  of  gold  and  the  walls  were  covered  in  the  same 
manner;  in  the  west  wall  the  architects  were  instructed 
to  contrive  a  sliding  panel  upon  which  he  had  inscribed 
certain  signs  and  oracles  in  such  a  marvelous  manner 
that  when  the  sunbeams  reached  that  point  it  focused 
them  inside  the  building,  weaving  golden  chains  from 
one  point  to  another,  encircling  the  sun-god  and  disclos- 
ing the  inscription  clearly,  which  at  other  times  was  quite 
invisible. 

The  reason  which  Votan  and  the  great  high  priests 
gave  for  taking  this  precaution  was  the  fear  that  at  some 
future  time  marauding  bands  might  force  an  entrance  to 
the  well  guarded  temple  and  learn  the  secret  of  the  en- 
trance to  the  treasure-house,  a  fact  which  the  panels  dis- 
closed. 

The  temple  to  the  moon  was  formed  similar  to  that  of 
the  sun,  but  sheets  of  silver  were  used  to  cover  the  roof 


34  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

and  walls,  and  the  moon-god  was  made  entirely  of  that 
pale  metal. 

Votan  never  insisted  or  attempted  to  force  his  own 
language  upon  the  natives  and  he  further  gained  their 
reverence  and  approval  by  adopting  their  names  for  the 
orb  of  day  and  night  which  were  given  to  those  two  im- 
portant representative  gods.  The  sun-god  was  called  Tez- 
catlipoca  and  the  moon-god  Tezcatliquina. 

During  the  time  of  his  last  voyage  to  his  native  land, 
Votan  informed  his  followers  that,  notwithstanding  his 
hurried  flight,  he  had  visited  the  house  of  the  thirteen  ser- 
pents and  that  he  had  traced  the  origin  of  the  Maya  race 
to  the  descendants  of  Imos  of  the  race  of  Chan,  or  the 
serpent;  and  he  impressed  upon  them  the  fact  that  they 
were  favored  of  the  Supreme  Deity,  inasmuch  as  he  had 
changed  them  from  serpents  into  men,  and  he  repeatedly 
cautioned  them  against  all  evil  doing  lest  their  souls 
when  free  be  forced  to  inhabit  the  lower  animals,  descend- 
ing lower  and  still  lower  at  each  freedom  until  they  again 
inhabited  the  body  of  serpents,  and  to  further  impress  the 
terrible  menace  upon  their  minds,  he  provided  emblems 
with  a  serpent  inscribed  upon  them  as  a  reminder  of  the 
probable  consequence  of  evil  doing. 

A  few  years  previous  to  his  death  the  renowned  ex- 
plorer was  grieved  to  learn  that  a  tidal  wave  had  wrecked 
his  ships  which  had  been  moored  several  miles  from  the 
mouth  of  the  broad  river  which  they  named  Panuco. 

Among  the  laws  which  he  taught  his  people  to  ooserve 
was  the  value  of  giving  to  their  priests,  soldiers  and 
scholars  particular  distinction  and  to  all  professions  a 
share  of  public  esteem,  for  the  despising  of  any  man  who 
labored,  however  lowly,  was  taught  a  crime ;  all  were  use- 
ful to  the  kingdom ;  by  this  means  arts  were  raised  to  their 
highest  perfection  for  the  honor  which  awaited  them 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  35 

mixed  with  every  thought  and  care  for  their  improve- 
ment. 

Simplicity  was  seen  in  all  things  as  taught  by  him  and 
the  quantity  of  what  he  ate  or  drank  was  prescribed  to 
him,  as  well  as  to  all  of  his  subjects  by  the  court  physician 
— for  eating  and  drinking  was  designed  to  satisfy  the 
cravings  of  nature  instead  of  tickling  the  palate. 

"Xochitl,  our  sacred  drama  relates  the  noble  life  of 
our  Savior  and  I  will  not  tire  you  with  the  details  of  the 
manner  in  which  each  king  carried  out  the  commands 
and  wishes  of  our  noble  ancestors,  and  of  the  present 
reign  there  are  occurrances  which  I  feel  it  a  sacred  duty 
to  withhold  even  from  you — at  least  for  the  present  time/' 

"It  is  well,  dear  Hueman,  and  I  thank  you  fervently 
for  your  patient  kindness  in  reading  to  me  that  portion  of 
the  records  which  I  most  desired  to  know,  and  I  am  proud 
and  glad  to  be  the  descendant  of  such  worthy  people. 
Now  I  must  return  or  my  parents  will  become  alarmed  at 
my  absence." 

As  she  hurried  away  the  prophet  gazed  after  her  ten- 
derly as  he  murmured  softly,  "She  is  the  chosen  one  of 
all  our  kingdom,  she  knows  no  frivolity,  she  interests  her- 
self in  naught  which  is  harmful  and  her  loyal  exalted 
sentiments  are  merits  worthy  of  a  kingdom — but,  ah  me, 
can  I  manage  to  overcome  the  passion  which  she  exhibit- 
ed— surely  it  is  only  a  passing  whim  and  must  be  over- 
come." 

A  dreamy,  far  away  expression  crept  into  the  eyes  of 
the  prophet  as  they  swept  the  broad  expanse  of  fertile 
fields,  golden  with  the  ripened  grain,  and  noted  the  flash 
of  the  sickles  in  the  hands  of  the  gleaners,  while  beyon'd 
glistened  the  stately  towers  and  domes  of  the  walled  city 
of  Tollantzingo,  making  a  charming  picture  in  the  bright 
sunlight,  imposing  and  pleasing  to  the  admiring  behold- 


36  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

er;  but  a  sigh  deep  and  woeful  welled  from  the  depths  of 
his  troubled  bosom  as  he  dwelt  upon  the  fearful  fact  that 
not  one  store-house  would  be  replenished  to  remain 
against  a  time  of  need  as  had  been  done  by  every  previous 
ruler  in  order  to  provide  against  any  possible  emergency : 
but  the  present  ruler  disposed  of  every  surplus  measure 
of  grain  and  squandered  the  proceeds  lavishly. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  37 


CHAPTER  III. 

In  order  to  distract  his  thoughts  from  the  burning  in- 
dignation which  assailed  him,  he  resumed  his  study  of 
the  documents  and  carefully  read  the  following  lines: 

TEOAMOXTLI. 

I,  Hueman,  the  prophet  of  Tollantzingo,  do  hereby 
certify  that  all  of  the  foregoing  history  is  correct  in  every 
particular  so  far  as  the  records  which  are  in  my  posses- 
sion have  related,  and  from  them  I  have  carefully  com- 
piled these  volumes  for  the  benefit  of  our  glorious  nation 
in  whose  hearts  I  would  awaken  any  dormant  energy 
with  the  ambitious  sentiments  and  heroic  motive  trans- 
mitted by  a  long  line  of  worthy  ancestors.  But  it  is  with 
acute  pain  and  mortification  that  I  behold  a  spirit  of  dis- 
sension increasing  day  by  day — a  rebellious  feeling  which 
has  not  died  out  although  its  object  was  attained  by  the 
dethronement  of  the  Toltec  king  who  preceded  Tecpant- 
caltzin,  the  present  ruler,  and  was  brought  about  by  the 
fact  that  he  neither  fostered  nor  upheld  any  warlike  spirit, 
nor  encouraged  the  sentiment  in  any  of  his  subjects  fur- 
ther than  to  keep  his  army  well  drilled  in  case  of  attack. 
Many  besought  him  to  quiet  the  hostile  demonstrations 
about  him  by  conquering  them  by  force  of  arms ;  the  con- 
tinued altercations  finally  brought  about  a  council,  then, 
to  the  astonishment  of  the  king,  he  became  aware  of  the 


38  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

fact  that  one  of  the  high-priests  favored  the  movement; 
this  was  a  grave  situation  indeed,  and  the  king  command- 
ed my  father,  who  was  a  great  high-priest,  to  take  com- 
plete control  of  the  records  and  to  engage  trustworthy 
workmen  to  build  a  new  treasure-house  far  enough  re- 
moved from  the  present  one  that  the  noise  of  their  labor 
should  be  unheard — but  the  first  and  most  important 
move  in  that  direction  which  he  commanded  was  that 
they  should  take  the  oath  of  secrecy  which  meant  death 
rather  than  divulge  the  secret  of  its  location. 

When  the  whole  tedious  task  was  at  length  accom- 
plished they  carefully  transferred  the  mammoth  hoard  of 
treasures  before  the  dissenters  became  aware  of  their  de- 
signs, for  the  king  foresaw  that  they  meditated  extreme 
and  desperate  measures  and  sanctioned  by  the  rebellious 
high-priest  might  at  any  moment  attempt  to  dethrone 
him  and  set  up  an  entirely  new  code  of  laws. 

My  father  carried  out  the  wishes  of  the  king,  who  then 
enlisted  among  his  body  guards  the  workmen  who  had 
been  employed  in  the  secret  mission  that  no  suspicion 
should  be  attached  to  them  as  they  lived  in  terror  of  ap- 
prehension. 

My  father  was  an  astronomer  and  studied  the  map  of 
the  heavens  continually,  and  I  have  inherited  the  same 
eager  desire  which  has  grown  to  be  the  light  of  my  exist- 
ance  and  makes  me  feared  and  revered  beyond  personal 
malice  or  mortal  stratagem. 

The  Chichimecas,  a  cruel  and  blood-thirty  nation  from 
the  far  north,  having  heard  of  our  prosperity  through 
missionaries  whom  we  sent  to  civilize  them  and  who  speak 
a  different  tongue,  have  made  their  strong-hold  at  the 
base  of  Popocatapetl  and  are  now  our  covetous  and  de- 
signing enemies,  they  having  conceived  the  treacherous 
idea  that  they  might,  if  aided  by  other  powerful  tribes, 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  39 

overthrow  our  government,  and  they  were  continually 
making  raids  upon  our  people  in  distant  portions  of  our 
kingdom.  When  these  facts  were  laid  before  our  loyal 
and  beloved  king,  he  immediately  sent  a  troop  of  soldiers 
to  guard  our  people  until  they  gathered  their  crops,  as  all 
attempts  to  win  and  civilize  the  Chichimecas  had  signal- 
ly failed  at  the  expense  of  many  lives ;  for  they  have  been 
a  menace  for  years,  but  recently  have  become  emboldened 
as  our  peace-loving  king  refrained  from  warring  with 
them,  hoping  thus  by  patient  example  to  impress  upon 
their  stubborn  hearts  the  wisdom  of  civilization. 

These  mild  measures  were  scoffed  at  by  the  dissenters 
who  pointed  out  the  fact  that  their  enemies  were  yearly 
growing  more  powerful  and  more  aggressive,  but  the 
king  fondly  hoped  that  some  brave  missionaries  whom  he 
had  recently  sent  among  them  would  affect  an  impression 
which  would  at  least  have  a  restraining  influence  and  he 
was  grieved  and  horrified  to  learn  from  indisputable  evi- 
dence that  they  had  all  been  sacrificed ! 

While  the  terrible  news  was  being  conveyed  to  the  king 
the  dissenters  held  a  meeting  denouncing  his  course  as 
an  act  of  humiliation  that  he  would  restrain  his  well 
equipped  army  from  attacking  and  driving  the  barbarous 
marauders  from  out  their  domain  forever.  The  demon- 
strations became  so  formidable  that,  headed  by  the  rebel- 
lious high-priest,  they  marched  to  the  palace  and  com- 
manded the  gentle,  peace-loving  king  to  vacate  the  throne 
or  remain  as  a  prisoner  guest!  he  chose  the  former  al- 
ternative and  the  grief  and  mortification  broke  his  kind 
heart  and  he  died  shortly  after  Tecpanticaltzin,  who  was 
of  alien  blood,  mounted  the  throne. 

The  new  king  possessed  enough  warlike  ambition  to 
please  the  dissenters,  and  in  order  to  arouse  and  inflame 
their  hearts  with  cruelty — which  he  considered  a  neces- 


4O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

sary  element  to  impress  his  importance  upon  his  subjects 
and  also  to  create  a  proper  respect  for  him  in  the  breast 
of  his  enemies  abroad — he  commanded  that  the  Cuaxi- 
calli-Tizoc  be  carved  out  to  receive  human  sacrifice !  that 
the  prisoners  they  captured  should  meet  the  same  fate  as 
those  who  were  captured  by  the  enemy;  this  command 
was  beyond  the  limit  of  the  dissenters'  expectations  and 
the  priests  remonstrated  with  him,  but  he  over-ruled  their 
objections  with  promises  of  adhering  religiously  to  every 
other  form  of  government  and  pointed  out  that  as  king  he 
possessed  the  power  to  make  human  sacrifice  of  prison- 
ers of  war.  The  demoralizing  influence  of  the  barbar- 
ous executions  soon  became  apparent  and  appaling! 

Upon  her  death-bed  the  mother  of  the  newly  appointed 
king  sent  for  my  father  and  confessed  to  him  that  the 
blood  of  the  despised  Chichimecas  coursed  through  the 
veins  of  her  son!  and  she  begged  of  him  to  use  his  in- 
fluence in  his  behalf  toward  leniency  on  the  part  of  the 
opposing  element  in  Tollan.  She  assured  him  that  his 
fearful  acts  of  cruelty  were  but  the  natural  outcome  of 
inheritance  and  that  he  himself  was  not  aware  of  the 
terrible  fact. 

She,  with  two  other  Toltec  maidens,  had  been  taken 
captive  by  a  band  of  marauding  Chichimecas  and  she  had 
been  forced  to  wed  one  of  the  sons  of  the  king  and  for 
four  years  was  kept  a  prisoner  among  them  until  rescued. 

My  father  was  too  wise  a  counselor  to  distribute  the 
shameful  news  among  our  people  which,  if  known,  would 
have  surely  caused  a  civil  war  to  dethrone  the  usurper 
who,  under  the  laws  of  the  Toltec  Savior,  should  be  put 
to  death.  But  he  carefully  noted  all  of  the  above  facts 
and  placed  them  among  the  important  records  of  the  new 
treasure-house.  The  high-priest  who  headed  the  re- 
bellious element  was  appointed  great  high-priest  and  h£ 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  41 

arranged  a  new  code  of  laws  which  were  approved  by  the 
king  and  then  they  demanded  of  my  father  the  key  to 
the  treasure-house  and  when  they  found  it  empty,  or 
nearly  so,  they  branded  him  a  thief!  and  they  tortured 
him  to  wring  the  secret  from  him  and  as  a  last  resort  the 
furious  king  commanded  that  he  be  hurled  upon  the 
Cuaxicalli-Tizoc  and  if  he  still  refused  that  he  should 
be  executed!  He  had  taken  the  oath  of  secrecy  and  he 
kept  his  vow. 

The  new  ruler  imposed  enormous  taxes  upon  the  peo- 
ple, declaring  that  the  treasures  were  stolen  and  he  had 
no  other  means  of  carrying  on  a  war  to  exterminate  or 
banish  the  troublesome  Chichimecas — but  the  property 
of  the  priests  were  exempt  from  taxation  as  before.  He 
undertook  no  improvements  nor  kept  up  those  which  had 
been  made  by  the  skill  and  judgment  of  our  predecessors. 

Whether  the  king  and  his  counselors  imagine  for  a  mo- 
ment that  I  am  possessed  of  the  secret  of  the  new  treas- 
ure-house I  cannot  say,  for  they  have  never  dared  to 
make  any  demonstrations  in  regard  to  it  since  that  fear- 
ful day  when  my  aged  father  refused  to  betray  the  trust. 

Since  my  inherited  powers  were  made  known — the 
science  of  reading  the  stars — which  fact  has  been  dem- 
onstrated frequently,  they  hold  me  in  reverence  and  fear. 

In  order  to  impress  upon  the  minds  of  those  who  will 
inherit  these  records  the  manners  and  customs  of  the 
present  day,  I  will  state  clearly  the  true  condition  of 
our  people,  and  it  is  with  pain  and  sorrow  that  I  behold 
the  degenerating  influence  of  our  boastive  profligate 
king  in  all  portions  of  our  kingdom,  and  he  has  not  as 
yet  succeeded  in  conquering  or  banishing  the  Chichimecas 
by  adopting  their  barbarous  methods  of  execution  as  a 
menace,  which  degrading  action  has  produced  more  bru- 


42  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

tality  in  the  hearts  of  some  of  our  people  than  it  has 
awakened  fear  in  the  breasts  of  the  enemy. 

My  soul  grieves  to  know  that  the  glorious  precepts 
taught  by  the  immortal  Quetzalcoahtl  are  rapidly  losing 
their  power  through  the  wanton  wiles  of  this  alien  king 
— if  my  plans  can  only  be  matured  the  nation  may  yet  be 
saved — I  would  that  through  my  efforts  these  debasing 
influences  might  be  arrested. 

*  *  *  "Oh  good  and  wise  Hueman,  prophet  of  the 
Tollan  kingdom,  will  you  pardon  my  intrusion?  I  have 
come  to  ask  of  you  a  favor:  you  see  this  blossom  which 
I  hold,  it  reveals  in  its  tiny  cup  royal  tints  stolen  from  the 
modest  violet,  I  am  sure,  in  order  to  disguise  the  lurking 
venom  hidden  there  that  can  destroy  reason,  can  produce 
death!  I  love  all  plants  and  flowers,  you  know;  love 
every  effort  of  sublime  nature  and  glory  in  her  superb 
choice  of  colors  in  each  tiny  blade  or  towering  palm ;  you 
have  taught  me,  dear  Hueman,  the  dreadful  effects  which 
may  be  produced  by  Toloache,  but  you  have  never  hinted 
of  your  knowledge  of  its  opposing  spell — was  the  omis- 
sion an  accident  ?  or  did  you  not  wish  to  teach  me  that  of 
which  I  long  to  know." 

"Fair  Xochitl,  the  knowledge  of  the  antidote  is  an 
heirloom,  a  miracle,  which  mine  aged  sire  bequeathed  to 
me  when  he  saw  the  inevitable  fate  which  closed  about 
him — I  have  sworn  to  divulge  it  to  no  one  until  my 
powers  fail  me;  then  it  can  only  be  transmitted  to  my 
nearest  kin." 

"The  gods  of  Tollantzingo  are  kinder  to  me  than  even 
you  today,  Hueman :  they  led  me  to  a  hidden  stream 
concealed  by  a  pyramid  of  living,  breathing  emerald.  I 
drank  of  the  wonderful  life-giving  beverage  and  all  na- 
ture smiled  approvingly,  the  whispering  leaves  of  the 
swaying  branches  saluted  me  and  the  tempting  luscious 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  43 

figs  have  burst  for  very  joy.  Your  heart  too  will  be  made 
glad,  mine  honored  friend,  when  I  share  with  you  this 
wonderful  secret  which  I  came,  dear  Hueman,  to  barter 
for  thine." 

"Daughter  of  Papantzin,  what  need  have  you  of  the 
antidote?  I  warn  you  to  beware  of  the  pernicious  effects 
of  Toloache — the  little  knowledge  which  I  have  bestowed 
upon  you  of  herb-life  may  prove  a  detriment  to  you." 

"Hueman,  I  will  unburden  all  to  you — I  have  a  rival 
and  a  dangerous  one !" 

"Perchance  a  rival,  fair  Xochitl,  but  not  a  peer." 

"Dear  Hueman,  I  trust  you  so  implicitly,  and  if  the 
whole  world  could  look  upon  me  through  your  kindly 
eyes  I  had  no  need  of  the  antidote.  My  rival  is  fleet  of 
foot,  nimble  of  tongue,  and  oh,  Hueman,  she  is  beautiful ! 
but  oh,  so  cruel !  As  I  was  coming  to  share  with  you  my 
secret  she  met  me  at  the  chapel  door  and  vowed  that  if 
my  lover  did  not  turn  to  her  that  his  powers  should  fail 
him!  You  know  too  well,  oh,  prophet,  that  there  is  but 
one  way  for  her  to  accomplish  the  terrible  threat,  and  I 
fear  that  she  will  endeavor  to  carry  it  into  execution." 

"Fear  naught,  fair  maiden,  give  me  her  name,  and  by 
the  power  of  my  art,  I  will  teach  the  brazen  creature  that 
there  are  mightier  forces  to  combat  your  wrongs  than  she 
can  ever  understand,  take  no  more  heed  to  her  vile 
threats,  tell  me  her  name." 

"She  is  Ezcolotl,  the  daughter  of  Hatsutl,  and  her 
father  is  the  court  physician  now,  she  knows  the  man- 
ner of  preparing  herbs,  but  I  will  heed  your  mandate,  and 
no  longer  fear  her.  Please  tarry  here,  Hueman,  until  I 
bring  to  you  a  draught  which  will  make  your  soul  rejoice 
and  your  eyes  sparkle,  into  each  muscle  and  sinew  you 
will  feel  the  strength  of  its  marvelous  exhilaration." 

"Away,  fair  maiden,  I  await  you." 


44  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

The  aged  priest's  admiring  eyes  followed  her,  and  He 
mused :  "Ah,  how  fleet  of  foot  is  she,  how  lithe  of  limb, 
methinks  I  hear  seraphim  whispers  in  her  wake,  the  stars, 
alas,  have  mapped  for  her  a  thorny  path,  which  hovered 
o'er  her  birth,  and  I  shall  strive  through  fear  alone  to 
save  her,  and  thus  perchance  the  gods  will  kindly  aid  me, 
and  then  we  may  avert  the  menace  of  her  destiny — and  if 
he  dares  for  one  brief  moment  to  trifle  with  her  love  when 
I  have  changed  the  current  of  her  passion — gods  of  Tol- 
lantzingo  aid  me  to  tear  him  limb  from  limb !  My  art  is 
deep,  my  will  is  strong,  but,  ohj  my  heart  is  tender,  and 
it  grieves  my  soul  to  cast  one  doubtful  shadow  across  her 
trusting  face — I  will  not  force  the  time  and  place  for  them 
to  meet,  I  leave  that  also  to  the  gods,  and  when  my  near- 
est dearest  kin  returns  again  from  the  stricken  realms  of 
Tula  I  will  unfold  my  plans  to  him  and  share  with  him 
the  secrets  of  our  race,  the  time  has  come.  Earth  holds 
the  magic  three  for  me  to  love  and  cling  to  my  country, 
my  Topiltzin,  and  sweet  Xochitl  whose  grace  and  beauty 
recalls  my  own  sweet  gentle  love  whose  spirit  guards  me 
ever. 

"What,  returned  so  soon?  I  scarce  had  swept  the 
doubtful  horizon  with  mine  aged  vision  since  your  fleet- 
ing footsteps  died  in  the  distance." 

"Oh,  thou  marvel  of  wisdom,  see,  I  drink  to  the  health 
of  the  prophet  of  Tollantzingo." 

"A  thousand  thanks,  fairer  maiden  never  voiced  more 
pleasing  sentiments;  what  do  you  drink?  Surely  your 
fertile  brain  has  named  the  virtuous  draught." 

"Wine  of  maguey,  good  sir." 

"It  is  rightly  named,  I  never  tasted  any  cordial  half  so 
exhilarating,  it  tears  away  the  cobwebs  which  I  am  con- 
vinced have  festooned  my  fancies  for  many  years.  I 
verily  believe  it  has  the  power  to  circumvent  old  tyrant 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  45 

Time — I  am  indeed  enthused  by  this  sweet  balm,  and  our 
nation  owes  you  a  rich  reward  for  this  wonderful  dis- 
covery, the  king  must  be  informed  of  this  without  delay, 
he  must  reward  you  handsomely  as  you  so  richly  deserve 
to  be." 

"Oh,  Hueman,  I  crave  no  wish  to  meet  the  king — I 
fear  him — my  trembling  feet  would  falter,  and  my  hands 
could  never  bear  a  draught  to  him." 

"Go,  Xochitl,  do  my  bidding,  child :  say  to  your  father 
that  I  will  accompany  you  after  I  have  sought  an  audience 
with  him  to  pave  the  way,  then  I  will  at  once  return  to 
meet  you  at  your  cottage  door;  do  not  hesitate  or  others 
will  seek  to  claim  the  honor  awaiting  you,  you  may  lose 
your  quondam  lover  and  gain  a  crown,  hasten,  child,  the 
day  will  soon  be  done." 

"Why,  say  you  I  may  lose  my  lover,  wise  Hueman  ?" 

"To  win  and  save  our  kingdom!  The  eyes  of  our 
monarch  are  not  dimmed  with  age  nor  yet  bleared  with 
dissipation.  He  can  but  note  your  supple  grace  and  match- 
less form.  One  glance  into  your  melting  eyes  will  set 
liis  pulses  tingling,  even  as  wine  of  magney  have  enrapt- 
ured mine." 

"I  crave  not  his  admiration  nor  his  diadem,  not  though 
I  were  the  daughter  of  ten  thousand  kings — give  me  my 
own  true  lover  chieftain,  he,  who  girds  his  shield  about 
him  with  the  mottled  pelt  of  the  fleetest  mountain  roe,  who 
"beards  the  gnashing  tiger  in  her  lair,  and  hurls  the  missies 
of  war  straight  to  the  Chichimeca  bosoms  unto  death." 

"Child,  where  is  your  discretion?  Methinks,  the  whisp- 
ering breezes  scarce  have  carried  your  cherished  vow 
beyond  the  horizon  of  my  recall — you  are  no  fickle  maid — 
nature  has  kindly  lent  you  wisdom  far  beyond  your  years, 
did  you  not  say  the  gods  had  led  you  to  the  fountain  of 
the  wine  ?" 


46  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"I  did,  Hueman." 

"And  I  have  prayed,  implored,  besought  the  gods  to 
lead  the  way  if  they  approved  my  wishes,  and  would  aid 
our  nation's  weal,  this  is  their  answer  then  which  you 
have  brought — that  rival  maiden  Ezcolotl  shall  be  sum- 
moned to  join  the  procession  unto  the  king  and  her 
treacherous  palms  shall  bear  a  plant  of  the  maguey  in 
honor  of  your  triumph  and  discovery." 

"It  is  well,  Hueman,  I  will  go  to  do  your  bidding  feel- 
ing sure  that  the  king  will  not  fail  to  observe  that  Ez- 
colotl is  handsomer  far  than  I,  for  she  is  beautiful  as  day 
when  day  is  fair." 

"Ah,  child  of  dawning  wisdom,  it  is  not  beauty  alone 
inspires  the  heart,  the  influence  of  a  noble  soul  speaks 
louder,  with  a  voiceless  tongue,  awakens  deep  mysterious 
power,  asserts  the  truth,  binds  kindred  ties  that  naught 
can  tear  asunder,  while  beauty  would  but  please  the  pass- 
ing gaze." 

"Your  words  are  weighed  with  truth — you  touched  a 
tender  chord  within  my  soul  that  echoes  thoughts  like 
those.  You  arouse  the  hope,  I  fear,  you  longed  to  stay; 
yes,  I  will  now  obey  you  heart  and  soul,  for  surely,  good 
Hueman,  your  words  apply  to  me  as  well  as  him  whom 
we  call  king." 

"Translate  them  as  you  will,  fair  maid — but,  oh,  be  loy- 
al to  our  country's  needs,  do  not  allow  one  selfish  motive 
to  shape  or  mar  your  loyalty." 

She  bowed  her  head  and  as  she  turned  to  go  the  prophet 
rapidly  retraced  his  steps  toward  the  palace  while  he 
mused — "it  is  the  answer  to  my  long  appeal;  the  way  is 
made  clear  without  mine  intervention,  and  now  I  will  do 
my  part  without  regret  or  fear,  and  he  will  give  them 
audience,  for  the  haughty  Tecpantcaltzin  has  yet  to  re- 
fuse e'en  one  request  of  mine  since  he  has  known  my  oc- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  47 

cult  power."  As  he  returned  from  the  interview  with  his 
request  granted,  he  chanced  to  meet  the  father  of 
Xochitl  to  whom  he  said : 

"Ah,  Papantzin,  this  moment  I  was  on  the  way  to  your 
abode,  I  have  just  completed  arrangements  with  the  king, 
who  will  permit  your  charming  daughter  an  audience  with 
him  that  she  may  thus  make  known  the  wonderful  dis- 
covery which  the  gods  of  Tollantzingo  have  revealed  to 
her,  I  warrant  you  that  it  will  be  the  means  of  elevating 
yourself  and  household  to  especial  rank  and  favor;  but 
tell  me,  Papantzin,  who  is  the  presumptuous  Toltec  chief- 
tain that  has  dared  to  whisper  love-songs  to  fair  Xochitl  ?" 

"It  is  your  nearest  kin,  brave  General  Topiltzin." 

"May  the  Supreme  Deity  defend  her,  what  proof  have 
you  to  back  this  framed  assertion?" 

"Naught  but  the  echo  of  his  pleading  voice  oft  reach- 
ing mine  ears,  and  the  effect  of  his  fervent  glances  that 
crimson  my  daughter's  truthful  face  like  the  blood-red 
petals  of  the  scarlet  rose." 

"Oh,  would  to  heaven  that  I  had  known  this  fact  be- 
fore I  sought  an  audience  with  the  king.  Ah,  now,  I 
see  her  horoscope  more  clearly — I  willed  things  other- 
wise with  my  blundering  persistancy  in  my  blind  en- 
thusiasm for  my  country's  weal — how  lavishly  I  extolled 
to  him  her  charms,  striving  to  arouse  infatuation  in  his 
breast  for  her,  we  love  those  deserving  merits  well,  but 
oh,  I  little  dreamed  what  cruel  mischief  I  was  plotting 
against  my  nearest,  dearest  kin." 

"What  possible  harm  can  come  of  so  courteous  an  act, 
Hueman?" 

"May  the  Supreme  Deity  protect  her — he  alone  knows. 
I  would  I  had  grown  pure  enough  and  listed  that  His 
sweet  spirit  had  communed  with  mine  and  lent  me  just 
the  least  of  gentle  warnings  in  his  behalf  and  hers." 


48  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"Methinks,  you  chide  yourself  unwarranted,  Hueman. 
This  task  is  not  a  grievous  one,  and  soon  may  be  accom- 
plished, able  seer." 

"In  that  you  know  not,  neither  I,  but  promise,  Papant- 
zin,  when  lunas  light  clothes  hill  and  vale  in  subdued 
splendor,  and  the  still  bosom  of  Atechpanomochocho  re- 
flects the  starry  firmament,  bring  your  fair  daughter  to 
the  foot  of  yonder  cliff  where  you  will  find  me  waiting, 
and  I  will  then  reveal  to  you  a  miracle." 

"Most  learned  Hueman,  I  fear  you  not  as  man  against 
man,  but  your  cunning  sorceries  do  mock  mine  under- 
standing, and  arouse  strange  misgivings  in  my  breast." 

"Papantzin,  your  daughter  made  known  to  me  a  re- 
quest this  day  which  I  will  strive  to  fulfill  in  a  manner 
acceptable  to  her,  and  that  is  why  I  bid  you  come." 

"Then  it  is  well  if  the  maid  desires  to  come,  I  shall  cer- 
tainly accompany  her." 

"Remember  then  to  supply  yourselves  with  plenty  of 
cucuyous,  for  we  shall  need  their  charming  lustre  to  be- 
hold the  miracle." 

"I  shall  come  prepared  with  many — but  see  the  little 
procession  awaits  us."  The  prophet  hastened  to  Xochitl's 
side  exclaiming — "Why  droop  and  cast  down  your  eyes, 
fair  Xochitl?  Throw  back  your  graceful  shoulders  and 
arouse  an  element  of  courage  and  indifference  within  your 
being." 

"Oh,  Hueman,  I  pray  you  do  me  this  one  great  favor — 
go  with  the  procession  and  my  father  to  the  king  and 
bear  the  draught." 

"Then  he  will  be  displeased  and  will  send  a  guard  to 
summon  you  without  delay,  and  many  unpleasant  diffi- 
culties may  arise  therefrom.  Child,  now  I  know  your 
heart,  your  father  told  me  all,  and  I  will  strive  to  undo 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  49 

what  I  so  blindly  sought  to  accomplish — in  one  short  hour 
the  duty  will  be  done." 

"Some  great  and  weighty  fear  is  gnawing  at  my  vitals, 
I  would  I  had  not  found  the  sparkling  draught,  Hueman, 
it  is  an  evil  omen,  that  I  tremble  so!" 


$O  ,THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"An,  diligent  Hueman,  your  study  of  the  stars  has  not 
been  for  naught;  where  has  this  Toltec  maid  been  hid- 
den all  these  years?  How  have  her  parents  managed  to 
conceal  this  shy,  beautiful  Xochitl.  I  did  not  know  until 
this  day  that  General  Papantzin  possessed  a  child." 

"She  is  their  only  child ;  her  parents  taught  her  at  their 
home  instead  of  sending  her  to  the  seminaries  to  be  edu- 
cated, their  cottage  nestles  at  the  base  of  yonder  hill." 

"Her  beauty  delighted  mine  eyes  far  more  than  I  had 
dreamed  it  possible  at  your  slow  speech  and  her  discovery 
tickled  my  palate ;  Papantzin  and  his  family  shall  indeed 
be  favored  of  their  king." 

"I  know  they  are  contented  with  their  lot — perchance 
a  pair  of  fawns  for  their  corral  were  not  amiss,  and 
bright-hued  raiment  for  the  maid  and  her  mother." 

"Hueman,  I  have  not  asked  your  choice  of  honors  for 
my  bestowal,  reserve  your  allegory  until  I  call  it  forth; 
it  is  not  for  that  purpose  that  I  lend  you  now  my  willing 
ear;  what  say  you  of  the  stars?  No  more  dissensions 
lurk  about  the  throne  befouling  the  air  like  hissing  ser- 
pents !  Mine  enemies  fall  back  before  the  weapons  of 
mine  armies  like  ripened  grain  before  the  gleaming  sickle. 
Break  forth  in  speech,  Hueman,  here  take  a  tankard  of 
this  wine,  it  will  do  your  stomach  good.  No?  Then  by 
my  faith,  I  do  believe  you  are  in  love  with  fair  Xochitl, 
too!" 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  5t 

"In  very  truth  I  am  in  fear  for  her,  oh  king;  the  stars 
that  hovered  o'er  her  birth  bespeak  great  calamities,  were 
unwanted  honors  forced  upon  her;  spare  her  your 
gracious  favor — bestow  upon  her  parents  what  you  will — 
she  is  but  a  child,  the  free  winds  are  her  lullaby,  the  plants 
and  flowers  her  choicest  companions;  seek  not  to  tram- 
mel her  with  honors  which  her  spirit  does  not  crave." 

"Avaricious  and  cunning  Hueman,  to  think  you  can 
make  me  feel  your  dotage !  What  changed  your  plea  since 
last  you  sought  my  presence?  I'll  warrant  there  is  more 
behind  this  scheme  than  stars  have  told — the  household  of 
Papantzin  are  my  subjects  at  my  disposal,  and  I  warn 
you  to  beware,  and  do  not  strive  to  shape  my  mind 
against  my  will — even  you  may  know  without  the  aid  of 
your  art  to  tell  you  what  the  gods  have  in  store  for  you 
long  before  you  care  to  have  it  known.  Confine  your  reck- 
oning to  the  language  of  the  stars  and  your  thoughts 
also." 

"King  Tecpantcaltzin,  I  have  no  fear  that  you  or  yours 
will  harm  a  single  hair  of  my  poor  silvered  head,  our  gods 
do  first  make  mad  whom  they  desire  to  kill ;  mine  eyes 
are  dimmed  striving  to  pierce  the  dark  veil  of  obscurity 
that  hangs  like  a  funeral  pall  above  Tollan.  I  must  be 
gone  to  my  cliff-tower  house  to  commune  with  my  be- 
loved children  of  the  skies,  as  they  proudly  step  into  line, 
for  the  curtain  of  night  is  unfolding." 

"Do  not  forget  that  tomorrow  is  a  feast  day  to  the  war- 
god  Huitzilopochtli,  he  shall  be  invoked  to  avert  your 
threatened  curse  or  'funeral  pall'  which  none  but  angry 
eyes  may  see  above  Tollan,  and  if  the  gods  do  first  make 
mad  whom  they  desire  to  kill  that  menace  may  rebound 
and  avert  your  untimely  threat/' 

"Not  mine,  but  thine !" 

"Beware,  Hueman,  nor  strive  to  pierce  me  with  thorns 


52  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

of  envy  torturing  you,  and  now  adieu,  I  trust  e'er  tomor- 
row you  will  have  regained  your  former  balance  and  no 
longer  strive  to  turn  my  mind  whither  your  fancy  urges." 

The  aged  priest  ventured  no  further  remarks  and  bowed 
and  passed  out  into  the  twilight  as  if  the  taunting  speech 
had  been  unheard,  but  when  his  hurrying  feet  had  meas- 
ured the  palace  grounds,  his  indignation  then  found  vent 
and  his  low  magic  tones  murmured — "and  he  has  dared 
to  threaten  me,  and  twit  me  of  his  power — this  alien 
king.  That  spirit  of  dark  insinuation  does  not  ill  become 
the  monster  that  he  is,  but  in  his  dreams  he  shall  be 
troubled,  wierd  goblins  shall  leer  at  him  from  every  side, 
and  he  shall  neither  wake  nor  sleep,  but  with  the  cold 
beads  of  perspiration  filling  every  pore  may  neither  find 
voice  nor  action  until  the  tardy  rays  of  a  new-born  day 
relax  his  tensioned  nerves  to  responsive  action — this  much' 
oh  King,  my  art  can  do  and  more.  And  it  were  well  for 
him  then  to  beware !"  As  he  reached  the  base  of  the  cliff, 
near  the  rock  stairway  leading  to  his  abode  he  was  re- 
lieved and  gratified  to  find  that  his  friends  were  awaiting 
him. 

"Welcome,  Papantzin,  thrice  welcome  are  you,  too, 
Xochitl;  come  climb  with  me  this  rugged  stairway  to 
my  domain ;  are  you  prepared  with  plenty  of  cucuyous  to 
light  our  way?" 

"Yes,  Hueman,  we  have  many." 

"Then  unhouse  those  living  lanterns,  Papantzin,  let 
their  weird  varied  hues  reveal  what  this  bat-like  gloom 
and  uncertainty  conceals  from  us." 

"Oh,  Hueman,  are  we  three  alone?  I  seem  to  hear 
strange  whisperings  in  the  air;  have  you  speech  with 
spectral  beings  here?" 

"Pause  you  a  moment,  child,  until  the  lanterns  glow, 
there  now,  come  nearer,  do  you  not  see  that  star-like  wax- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  53 

en-hued  blossom?  You  have  never  known  fragrance 
likened  unto  this.  Observe  those  leaves  more  closely; 
see,  their  contour  shapes  a  human  heart  traced  clear  with 
veins  and  arteries. 

"A  murmur  soft  and  low  comes  to  me  o'er  the  distant 
hills  from  out  yon  low-hung  fleecy  cloud — the  spirit  of 
prophesy  is  upon  me;  it  is  a  revelation — I  see,  I  hear,  I 
feel  the  presence  of  a  terrible  crisis  !The  sacrifice  was  not 
for  her,  naught  can  save  us.  I  see  my  beloved  race  con- 
quered !  They  are  fleeing  before  the  savage  strides  of  our 
enemies  like  a  herd  of  deer  before  a  drove  of  hungry 
wolves ! 

"I  see  a  remnant  of  our  once  proud  race  yoked  in 
slavery !  a  prey  to  the  resounding  lash  of  the  triumphant 
Chichimecas,  they  search  for  the  treasures  of  the  Toltecs, 
but  they  find  them  not — see,  the  blossom  is  fading — my 
revelation  is  done.  Here,  Xochitl,  take  these  leaves  and 
fading  blossoms,  and  remember  that  they  possess  a  mys- 
terious leaven  of  enduring  power,  for  days,  weeks  and 
months  they  will  sustain  a  human  life.  An  infusion  of 
these  heart-shaped  leaves  and  star-like  waxen-hued  blos- 
soms will  destroy  the  dreadful  and  blighting  effects  of  the 
innocent  appearing  but  accursed  Toloache." 

"Dear  Hueman,  I  cannot  find  words  to  half  express 
my  gratitude  to  you,  and  my  heart  feels  lighter,  and  my 
hope  more  secure  that  I  know  the  antidote." 

"Then  keep  these  secrets  locked  securely  within  your 
bosom,  that  is  all  that  I  require  of  you  to  do,  and  now, 
good  night  my  friends,  may  you  never  have  need  of  the 
antidote." 

For  several  hours  after  the  general  and  his  daughter 
had  departed  Hueman  was  communing  with  the  stars  un- 
til the  sound  of  some  great  commotion  welled  up  from 
Tollantzingo,  and  he  sought  the  highest  pinacle  which 


54  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

the  parapet  afforded  as  he  exclaimed — "Ha,  what  sounds 
are  those  I  hear  ?  It  is  he,  my  beloved  Topiltzin,  returned 
victorius!  The  gates  of  Tollantzingo  are  flung  wide  to 
admit  him  and  his  valiant  braves ;  soon  he  will  seek  me  at 
our  trysting  place."  *  *  * 

"He  comes,  goading  his  tired  form  with  the  lash  of  his 
eagerness  to  apprise  me  of  his  victory,  which  he  has 
won.  Ah,  now,  I  hear  his  flute-like  call;  who  but  chief- 
tains born  can  master  sounds  like  those — softly  trilled  like 
pleading  note  of  some  poor  wounded  bird — nearer,  clear- 
er, louder!  Mount  you  the  parapet,  my  dear  Topiltzin, 
I  await  you  upon  the  pinacle." 

"My  gracious  kinsman,  you  overwhelm  me  with  your 
confidence.  I  never  thought  my  feet  would  press  this 
height,  perchance  for  years  to  come.  To  what  am  I  in- 
debted for  all  this  condescension,  good  Hueman?" 

"And  are  you  not  deserving?  Unbosom  your  welcome 
tidings  that  I,  too,  may  rejoice  in  the  triumph  which  your 
honest  features  cannot  hide,  and  I  heard  in  the  lusty 
notes  of  your  ringing  challenging  voice." 

"We  routed  the  Tezcocans  and  Xochimilcas,  we  drove 
them  from  the  kingdom  of  Tollan,  and  have  brought  six 
hundred  prisoners  to  the  realm." 

"Well  done,  my  brave  Topiltzin,  they  harassed  our 
people  greatly,  and  had  they  joined  with  the  no  less  brutal 
Chichimecas  they  might  have  caused  us  serious  compli- 
cations, and  you  deserve  far  greater  honors  for  your 
brave  and  timely  action  than  this  craven  king  can  or  will 
bestow." 

"I  care  not  for  his  honors,  which  he  grudgingly  would 
give,  one  word  of  praise  from  him  would  gall  and  sting 
me  like  a  serpent !" 

"I  hold  the  complex  and  mysterious  key  to  greater 
power  and  wealth  than  he  has  ever  dreamed  in  all  his 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  55 

wildest  flights  or  fancies,  a  secret  kept  for  many  years 
locked  in  my  bosom,  a  secret  which  he  longs  with  all  of 
his  avaricious  soul  to  know,  and  it  shall  be  revealed  ta 
you,  my  Topiltzin,  before  the  rising  of  another  sun." 

"You  speak  in  parables,  Hueman,  and  make  me  feel  the 
want  of  understanding." 

"Then,  follow  me,  the  cucuyous  brought  by  Papantzin 
still  illumine  the  cavern." 

"Papantzin  here !" 

"Yes,  and  fair  Xochitl  also." 

"Oh,  Hueman,  then  do  not  hesitate,  lead  me  to  them — 
I  surely  felt  some  subtle  sweetness  in  the  air  that  warmed 
my  longing  heart — I  did  hesitate  some  moments  near 
their  door  but  all  was  dark  and  still,  I  am  so  glad  that 
they  are  here." 

"No,  Topiltzin,  you  did  mistake  my  speech,  they  have 
been  here,  but  the  hour-glass  has  thrice  emptied  since 
their  departure." 

"Oh,  would  to  heaven  that  I  had  met  them  here — it 
were  a  fitting  place  wherein  to  share  with  you  the  prec- 
ious burden  of  my  soul  which  I  have  guarded  as  too 
sweet,  too  sacred  for  mortal  ears  to  hear,  but  something 
urges  me  tonight  to  tell  you  all  and,  list,  Hueman,  I 
would  not  breathe  my  thoughts  upon  the  zephyrs  wing — 
/  love  the  sweet  Xochitl." 

"And  do  you  love  her  well  ?" 

"Love  her  ?  Oh,  Hueman,  do  the  drooping  flowers  love 
the  pattering  drops  of  rain,  the  shivering  creatures  of 
earth  the  warm  sunlight,  the  happy  mother  her  cherished 
babe?  When  have  I  not  hungered  and  thirsted  for  a 
glance  of  love  from  her  dark  lustrous  eyes,  for  love  of 
her  my  feet  have  never  tired  on  the  chase,  my  ambition 
never  flagged,  I  have  hurled  the  advancing  foes,  to  flight 
the  tide  of  battle  turned  when  a  sea  of  poisoned  arrows 


$6  :THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

cleft  the  air  about  me;  you  cannot,  wise  Hueman,  with' 
all  of  your  occult  power,  measure  the  height  and  depth 
of  such  a  love  as  mine.  It  saps  my  very  vitals  with  fever- 
ish joy,  it  elevates  my  being,  purifies  my  actions,  softens 
my  speech  and  rings  untiring  strains  of  music  to  my  glad 
and  happy  soul." 

"You  have  a  rival,  dear  Topiltzin,  and  he  is  mighty! 
He  wields  the  power  to  order  your  straight-limbed  manly 
form  to  feel  the  sting  of  death  upon  the  dreaded  Cuaxi- 
calli-Tizoc!" 

"The  king!  Gods  of  Tollantzingo,  I  implore  you  for- 
bid." 

"Courage,  Toplitzin,  be  brave;  here,  take  some  wine 
I  beg  of  you." 

"Courage!  think  you  I  have  need  to  renew  one 
dormant  sinew  in  my  staunch  muscled  frame?  I,  who 
have  battled  with  and  conquered  the  blood-thirsty  invad- 
ers when  they  outnumbered  us  ten  to  one — I  would  tear 
my  loved  one  from  the  machination  of  Tecpantcaltzin 
were  he  thrice  a  king." 

"I  knew  that  it  were  better  for  me  to  warn  you  before 
tomorrow's  feast,  and  it  grieves  my  heart  to  add  that  I 
am  now  to  blame  that  they  have  met.  I  did  urge  her  to 
make  known  to  him  a  secret  which  she  had  learned  was 
hidden  in  the  heart  of  the  maguey — it  is  a  spring  of 
honey  dew  delicious  to  the  senses —  and  for  this  discov- 
ery she  does  deserve  a  recompense  and  all  unconscious 
that  she  blushed  for  love  of  you  I  took  her  to  the  palace 
and  the  king." 

"And  he " 

"Was  enraptured  of  her  beauty;  I  did  command  the 
arrant  beauty  Ezcolotl,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Hatsutl, 
to  bear  in  her  reluctant  palms  a  plant  of  the  maguey,  that 
the  king  might  see  the  fruitful  acquisition  to  his  posses- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  57 

sion,  the  value  of  which  no  one  imagined  until  now,  but 
his  eager  longing  gaze  rested  only  upon  Xochitl,  and  he 
bade  her  bring  to  him  another  draught  of  the  wine  of 
maguey  upon  the  morrow ;  he  said  to  me  when  they  had 
gone,  that  the  household  of  Papantzin  shall  now  be  fav- 
ored of  their  king." 

"It  shall  not  be!  Hueman,  I  will  go  at  once  and 
arouse  my  sleeping  braves ;  will  take  my  loved  one  and  flee 
to  some  distant  portion  of  our  realm  and  dwell 
secure  until  the  time  arrives  for  me  to  mount  the  throne ; 
mine  by  right  of  inheritance." 

"Oh,  Topiltzin,  do  strive  to  curb  your  fearful  anger, 
my  beloved  kin;  within  your  passionate  bosom  there  is  a 
fount  of  veneration  for  the  Supreme  Deity  who  governs 
all  of  our  destinies  and  would  you  willingly  wound  Him 
by  taking  your  wrongs  upon  yourself  to  redress?  Ever 
since  your  tottering  feet  first  tried  to  bear  you  I  have 
taught  you  to  heed  the  gentle  voices  of  your  soul,  and  to 
obey  that  element  of  mighty  power  only,  and  this  is  the 
divine  secret  of  your  wonderful  success  in  all  of  your 
battles  of  life;  do  not  give  way  to  anger,  for  you  thus 
menace  and  destroy  that  conscious  sensitiveness  which  is 
your  true  salvation !  Bravely  ward  off  the  rebellious 
spirits  that  can  draw  you  away  from  that  glorious  plane 
where  you  can  gain  strength  from  every  trial  and  emerg- 
ency, where  through  silent  mental  prayer  and  the  obser- 
vance of  those  conditions  which  I  have  carefully  taught 
you,  that  you  might  be,  through  its  wonderful  influence, 
prevented  from  bodily  injury  through  any  physical  or 
earthly  cause.  Expand  that  sublime  creative  force  which 
emanates  from  the  divinity  within  you  and  crowd  out  all 
selfish  motives  and  thus  render  yourself  master  over  cir- 
cumstances, and  ever  attract  that  mighty  element  which 
you  must  carefully  nurture  to  the  absolute  extermination 


58  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

of  injurious  morbidity  which  can  destroy  your  precious 
soul.  Demand  courage,  demand  patience,  demand  jus- 
tice, and  be  hopeful  ever  in  that  boundless  fountain  of 
force  which  can  and  shall  conquer  all  of  your  difficulties. 
To-night,  I  will  share  with  you  the  secret  of  the  hidden 
store-house  which  contains  all  of  the  vast  wealth  of  the 
true  Toltecs ;  now  follow  me,  and  as  you  fear  the  wrath 
of  the  Supreme  Deity,  reveal  to  no  one  that  which  your 
eyes  shall  feast  upon." 

"Oh,  Hueman!  Hueman!  what  care  I  for  glittering 
wealth  when  my  precious  one  is  in  danger !  Those  spark- 
ling gems  would  madden  me  like  the  scintillating  eyes  of 
serpents,  the  very  sound  of  jingling  metals  would  gnash 
my  teeth  in  misery,  and  the  cold  touch  of  those  priceless 
treasures  would  startle  my  sense  like  the  clammy  brow 
of  the  shrouded  dead.  I  am  no  sybarite,  the  sylvian  bow- 
ers of  the  tangled  wilds  can  be  my  home  and  hers,  until 
this  alien  king  shall  be  dethroned.  How  has  he  not  de- 
meaned himself  in  the  eyes  of  his  people?  What  crime 
that  the  fiendish  impulse  of  a  barbarous  soul  can  suggest 
has  he  left  undone?  How  dare  he  then  insult  my  pure 
Xochitl  with  such  low-born  love.  I  tell  you  this,  Hue- 
man, and  I  swear  to  keep  my  vow,  thai  if  he  dare  attempt 
to  make  her  his  queen,  I  will  test  the  value  of  my  ac- 
knowledged power  to  make  his  throne  a  very  charnel 
house !" 

"My  aching  heart  bleeds  for  you,  my  cherished  kins- 
man, would  that  I  could  take  you  in  my  arms  and  cradle 
you  to  my  bosom  as  in  the  happy  days  gone  by,  when  you 
nestled  your  soft  cheek  against  my  own  while  I  crooned 
your  cares  away ;  how  unbearable  seemed  your  little  griefs 
then,  and  do  strive  to  accept  my  feeble  comfort  now — 
perchance,  this  be  but  wasted  sorrow — take  courage,  To- 
piltzin,  you  have  earned  the  right  to  gracious  honors  from 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  59 

the  king  and  with  the  spirit  of  conquest  wreathing  your 
victorious  brow,  go  to  the  king  upon  the  morrow  and 
await  her  coming ;  then  declare  to  him  that  you  are  pledg- 
ed to  and  wish  to  wed  Xochitl." 

"Hueman,  your  words  do  give  me  hope,  I  will  obey  you 
and  if  he  dare  to  trifle  or  remonstrate  with  my  vow,  the 
kingdom  of  Tollan  shall  be  divided!  Show  me  those 
wondrous  treasures  for  time  has  leaden  wings  until  the 
morrow." 

"Then  follow  me,  and  mark  well  each  footstep  down 
this  rock-ribbed  hall ;  see,  a  firm  pressure  upon  this  solid 
appearing  wall  of  stone,  and  behold  the  neatly  chiseled  en- 
trance to  royal  marble  halls ;  observe  the  key,  note  how 
cunningly  and  delusively  it  is  wrought — here  take  it,  To- 
piltzin,  it  is  yours  to  guard  henceforth,  that  if  aught 
should  happen  me  you  will  know  the  way  which  leads 
you  hither,  and  now  you  understand  why  it  should  be 
guarded  well ;  look  which  way  you  will  there  are  tiers  on 
tiers  of  Toltec  wealth,  magnificent  in  ingenious  work- 
manship, elegant  in  design,  copied  from  nature's  glori- 
ous handiwork.  Are  not  these  halls  of  massive  marble  a 
fit  abiding  place  for  the  wealth  of  the  Toltec  nation  ?" 

"This  scene  of  hidden  splendor  does  outrival  all  of  my 
wildest  dreams  of  wealth  and  magnificence;  these  tower- 
ing monuments  of  silver  and  gold  could  build  a  mighty 
edifice  tier  upon  tier;  these  jewels  are  of  sufficient  quan- 
tity to  bedeck  each  maid  and  mistress  in  Tollantzingo,  and 
have  quantities  to  spare,  of  what  use  is  all  of  this  glitter- 
ing wealth  which  lies  rusting  here?" 

"These  are  the  garnered  treasures  of  more  than  a 
thousand  years  of  Toltec  industry;  it  was  the  proud  am- 
bition of  our  ancestors  to  obey  the  mandates  of  Votan, 
the  father  of  our  honored  nation,  who  declared  that  some 
day  a  messenger  would  come  from  his  far  off  sun-land 


6O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

home  to  whom  great  tributes  must  be  paid,  one  who  would 
know  the  symbols  and  enigmas  upon  the  sliding  panels 
in  the  temple  to  the  sun,  which  are  now  misleading  and 
which  you  must  not  fail  to  have  replaced  with  the  in- 
structions leading  here,  but  upon  the  opposite  wall  that 
he  may  not  go  wrong  for  that  will  correct  the  pathway, 
which  you  must  arrange  if  comes  the  time  when  you  are 
vested  with  the  power  which  you  crave,  and  which  you 
are  entitled  to  by  right  of  inheribtance.  So  many  centuries 
have  fulled  and  waned  that  I  fear  the  very  course  across 
the  trackless  ocean  where  once  our  ancestors  dwelt,  have 
been  forgotten,  and  still  we  wait  and  watch  for  the  mes- 
senger to  come.  Examine  more  closely  all  of  these  won- 
drous works  of  art,  see  these  delicately  traced  altar-rails, 
they  are  all  made  of  solid  bars  of  gold,  and  those  upon  the 
opposite  side  are  silver  leaved  with  gold ;  all  of  these  vases 
are  of  solid  gold  and  every  sparkling  gem  within  them  has 
princely  worth;  see  this  pyramid  of  darts  with  be  jeweled 
hilts,  also  the  cups,  platters,  spoons  and  ladles,  they  are 
all  of  solid  gold. 

Now  follow  me  still  further,  here  is  the  entrance  to  the 
great  mines  where  the  precious  metals  were  unearthed, 
and  here  now  are  the  relics  of  the  rude  implements  with 
which  they  mined ;  three  centuries  have  rolled  away  since 
these  caverns  echoed  to  the  pick-axe  and  shovel. 

"The  successor  to  king  Icoatzin,  the  seventh,  had  this 
mine,  which  has  the  richest  gold  bearing  vein  in  our 
kingdom,  walled  up  at  a  time  of  a  threatened  invasion, 
and  many  of  these  gems  were  also  taken  from  the  same 
rich  mine." 

"Has  not  the  time  arrived  when  a  portion  of  this  fabu- 
lous wealth  may  be  summoned  into  activity  and  useful- 
ness instead  of  corroding  here?" 

"What  need  have  our  people  of  this  hidden  store  ?  The 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  6l 

uncertainty  of  peace  within  our  kingdom  and  without 
make  it  impossible  for  us  to  work  the  mines  or  attempt 
to  do  aught  but  wait  until  a  lineal  descendent  of  the  royal 
line  can  mount  the  throne — our  fearful  oath  calls  down 
the  wrath  of  heaven  to  hide  this  prize  away  from  alien 
hands — all  this  you  know,  my  kin,  know  also  that  the  fer- 
tile fields  have  not  refused  to  yield  abundant  harvest ;  the 
pressed  earth  which  built  the  abodes  of  our  ancestors  and 
walled  in  their  cities  does  the  same  duty  now;  yonder 
eternal  mountains  afford  the  massive  blocks  of  adament 
with  which  we  tower  mighty  breast-works  that  defy  the 
sharpened  arrow  and  pelting  sling.  Had  Tecpantcaltzin 
and  his  court  an  inkling  of  the  magnitude  and  hiding- 
place  of  this  vast  wealth  it  would  make  them  idiotic !  To 
such  a  prodigal  lavishness  would  their  folly  lead  them. 

Locked  in  your  bosom  and  mine  the  knowledge  of  this 
kingly  inheritance  shall  remain  until  the  knell  of  disso- 
lution is  sounded  unless  you  or  your  progeny  or  a  true 
royal  Toltec  mount  the  throne,  but  alas,  I  fear  that  our 
beloved  nation  is  tottering  upon  the  very  verge  of  doom ! 
I  see  it  in  my  study  of  the  heavens  and  feel  it  in  the  sor- 
row of  my  soul  which  I  cannot,  even  through  constant 
silent  mental  prayer,  overcome." 

"Yes,  Hueman,  I  will  guard  the  secret  with  my  life! 
No  torturing  enemy,  nor  promised  friend  shall  wrench 
it  from  my  bosom.  A  few  long  hours  more  must  inter- 
vene until  the  king  shall  by  his  course  decide  a  problem 
which  involves  our  nation's  weal,  when  the  edict  has  gone 
forth  no  parlying  voice  shall  then  be  heeded." 

"Do  nothing  rash  or  hasty,  I  implore  you!" 

"Why  do  you  chide  the  spirit  of  indignation  that  runs 
riot  in  my  soul?  Could  these  gleaming  emeralds  and 
blood-tinged  rubies  take  unto  themselves  the  hushed 
voices  of  our  noble  sires,  methinks,  they  would  rebuke 


62  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

me,  for  lingering  here  when  the  beloved  fawn  of  my 
"heart's  own  fold  is  bleating  for  fear  of  the  untethered 
wolf!  I  thirst  not  for  visions  like  these  which  do  but 
mock  me,  they  inspire  no  patient  influence  within  my 
bosom  and  I  long  for  the  morrow." 

"And  I,  oh,  Topiltzin,  I  dread  the  dawning  of  a  new 
day  with  an  aching  heart  which  has  never  brooked  sus- 
pense like  this  from  cause  of  thine.  Oh,  listen,  I  implore 
you,  to  the  voice  of  reason,  or  I  fear  my  taut  and  tension- 
ed  nerves  will  snap  asunder  before  the  beacon  fires  of  a 
new  born  day  banner  the  eastern  sky ;  court  the  wisdom 
of  discretion  now  and  warily  as  you  make  all  battle 
moves ;  tell  me  of  a  solitary  instance  where  the  flame  of 
blazing  anger  flaunted  in  the  face  of  abject  tyranny  ever 
accomplished  aught  but  measure  for  measure — for  this 
burning  element  in  vehement  eloquence  many  have  suf- 
fered defeat  although  pleading  in  behalf  of  justice  and 
truth.  Do  not  dash  into  the  presence  of  Tecpantcaltzin 
like  a  meddlesome  tiger  into  the  arena  of  death!  Bide 
your  time.  Methinks  the  voice  of  love  breathes  music  in 
your  soul  which  should  curb  your  anger  and  lull  your 
chaotic  mind  with  its  soporific  sweetness — hearken  to  my 
suffering  and  learn  what  agonies  my  lips  have  whitened 
with  that  wrenched  my  very  soul  in  twain !  Long  years 
ago — eternities  they  seem  to  me — I  loved  a  lute-voiced 
maiden  not  unlike  your  own  fair,  graceful  one.  I  trilled 
my  soft  teponaztli  beneath  her  window  until  the  laugh- 
ing stars  sang  together.  I  built  stately  mansions  in  the 
blue  realms  of  ether  where  she  always  ruled  as  queen; 
her  charm  chased  every  lowering  cloud  athwart 
my  youthful  horizon  and  her  glorious  eyes  mirrored 
a  gentle  soul  pure  as  the  crystal  dew-drop. 

One  cruel  day  her  dearly  loved  father,  who  was  a  com- 
manding officer,  was  captured  by  a  band  of  Chichimecas, 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  63 

as  were  also  a  number  of  his  men,  all  of  whom  they  tor- 
tured cruelly  until  life  was  extinct,  then  they  severed 
their  heads  and  spiked  them  upon  poles  which  they  plant- 
ed near  the  gates  of  Tollantzingo  as  they  dared  venture, 
and  when  a  thoughtless  guard  recognized  the  ghastly  relic 
of  her  father  he  reverently  secured  it  and  carried  it  to  the 
home  of  my  darling,  and  when  her  eyes  met  the  horrible 
sight  her  reason  forever  fled.  And  I,  all  unconscious  of 
her  dreadful  fate,  rushed  eagerly  into  her  presence  at  the 
close  of  a  long  chase.  Her  blank  stony-stare  maddened, 
frenzied,  overwhelmed  me.  When  I  learned  its  fearful 
cause,  I  gathered  her  into  my  strong  arms  and  fled  with 
her  to  this  cavern  home,  no  hindering  voice  retarded  me, 
and  here  she  dwelt  for  years  in  the  midst  of  all  this  royal 
splendor  a  prattling  queen;  her  shapely  hands  caressed 
these  jewels  and  fashioned  that  pyramid  of  darts  many 
times. 

One  dismal  night  she  went  to  sleep  in  my  sheltering 
arms  and  her  gentle  spirit  renewed  its  dormant  energies 
in  the  realms  of  light  beyond;  I  made  her  little  grave 
under  that  massive  boulder  by  the  mouth  of  the  buried 
mine,  and  it  seemed  then  that  the  fountain  of  my  tears 
would  never  dry. 

The  £rray-haired  friends  of  my  youth  speak  now  in 
whispering  tones  of  my  excruciating  agony  that  crushed 
my  proud  spirit  forever;  they  look  upon  me  as  one 
linked  with  supernatural  beings,  and  fear  and  heed  my 
prophesies;  and,  oh,  when  I  missed  this  one  fair  being, 
the  light  of  my  existence,  I  sought  with  eager  eyes  the 
blue  dome  of  heaven  until  she  blessed  my  startled  vision 
with  her  radiant  loveliness  mirrored  among  the  stars.  And 
now,  my  brave  Topiltzin,  be  merciful  to  yourself  and  to 
me,  your  prestige  nor  your  life  amounts  to  a  grain  of 
sand  in  the  eyes  of  King  Tecpantcaltzin  nor  his  counsel- 


64  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

ors,  they  would  gladly  find  excuse  for  crippling  all  of 
your  power  and  even  deprive  you  of  your  existence,  and 
forseeing  your  remarkable  abilities  as  well  as  the  menace 
about  you,  I  have  taught  you  the  art  of  war;  your  in- 
fluence in  this  realm  can  scarce  be  measured,  and  they 
dare  not  openly  accuse  you  of  any  grave  and  sufficient 
charge  to  divest  you  of  your  power,  and  yet  how  gladly 
they  would  find  some  excuse  which  you  must  guard 
against  giving." 

"Indeed,  I  have  long  been  well  aware  of  this,  Hueman, 
but  it  has  absolutely  no  weight  with  me.  My  only  fear 
is  for  my  promised  bride.  Oh,  why  could  she  not  have 
remained  in  sweet  seclusion  as  of  yore  until  she  were 
my  own  by  marriage  vows?" 

"In  that,  you  do  forsooth  rebuke  me,  Topiltzin,  and  yet 
that  invisible  force  which  places  the  arm  of  destiny  about 
us  has  ordained  these  things  in  that  you  made  no  confi- 
dent of  me  until  after  I  had  led  her  to  the  king.  It  is  too 
true,  alas,  that  I  now  see  her  horoscope  more  clearly.  I 
had  willed  it  otherwise  with  blundering  persistancy.  Let 
us  now  seek  repose,  my  kin,  and  bide  our  time  until  the 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  6$ 


CHAPTER  V. 

"HEAR  you  the  Huehuetls  call,  Topiltzin  ?  You  are  sum- 
moned early  to  the  palace.  I  trust  that  no  unwelcome 
tidings  lurk  in  that  command.  Oh,  arm  yourself  with 
discretion,  I  implore  you,  for  treachery  lingers  in  every 
shadow  about  the  throne." 

"Fear  not  for  me,  my  good  Hueman,  but  rather  for  they 
who  dare  molest  me,  and  do  not  worry.  I  feel  more  calm 
and  hopeful  in  this  glorious  bath  of  morning  sunshine, 
and  it  seems  to  me  that  all  nature  would  be  tearful  were 
injury  hovering  over  she  whom  I  so  dearly  love.  I  have 
no  warning  to  alarm  my  senses  which  to  me  is  a  peaceful 
omen.  I  shall  heed  your  words,  Hueman,  even  as  you 
desire." 

"The  gods  be  praised,  my  Topiltzin,  your  words  undo 
my  nervous  dread.  I  shall  soon  be  summoned  to  the  pal- 
ace and  will  join  you  there." 

The  priest  gazed  proudly  upon  the  stalwart,  fast  reced- 
ing form  of  the  agile  chieftain  and  marked  the  fearless 
strides  and  lofty  mien  until  he  saw  the  brazen  Ezcolotl 
following  in  his  wake  with  flying  feet  eager  to  overtake 
and  have  speech  with  him,  and  a  dark  forbidding  frown 
gathered  upon  the  prophet's  brow,  nor  was  it  dispelled 
until  he  saw  a  king's  messenger  approaching,  and  he  mut- 
tered in  his  accustomed  monotone — Yes,  he  has  need  of 
me,  I  knew  full  well  his  dreams  would  be  but  troubled 
ones ;  yes,  I  shall  go  at  once,  it  is  none  too  soon !" 


66  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

The  palace  grounds  were  beautiful  with  every  con- 
ceivable device  to  make  them  so,  tall  trees  were  gorgeous- 
ly adorned  with  various  flowers  which  had  been  cunning- 
ly secured  upon  them  with  fibres  of  maguey,  some  were 
adorned  with  roses  alone,  their  fragrance  welcome  to  the 
balmy  air.  Many  trees  were  made  ones  and  formed  of 
such  heavy  timbers  that  a  stalwart  man  would  be  secure 
upon  their  topmost  branches,  with  every  limb  and  twig 
garlanded  with  flowers.  A  yellow  rose  bower  was  pre- 
pared for  the  messenger  from  the  sun,  the  usual  custom, 
upon  each  festal  day,  that  he  might  feel  a  welcome  in  the 
knowledge  that  he  was  never  forgotten,  and  the  prophet 
glanced  toward  it  with  pleasure  marked  upon  his  earnest 
features,  and  he  remarked  to  one  of  the  guards  that  the 
bower  had  never  appeared  so  sweetly  inviting  as  this  fes- 
tal day  to  the  war-gfod  Huitzilopochtli. 

Upon  a  nearby  temple  roof  sat  jauntily  the  crimson 
rose  bower  prepared  for  the  pretty  queen  of  flowers,  who 
royally  received  all  who  were  venturesome  enough  to 
scale  this  lofty  wall.  Sweet  strains  of  sacred  music  swell- 
ed and  vibrated  the  fragrant  breeze,  and  the  clear  voiced 
cuycapicque  had  never  sung  with  such  welcome  melan- 
choly; thus  murmured  the  observing  prophet,  as  his  mic- 
roscopic eyes  devoured  each  welcome  change. 

Upon  the  frescoed  walls  of  the  palace  outlined  by  a 
master  hand  were  hung  the  portraits  of  Votan,  Quetzal- 
cohuatl  and  many  other  kings  who  had  ruled  the  Toltec 
race ;  they  were  framed  in  panels  of  silver  and  gold,  and 
were  garlanded  with  fresh  cut  flowers  which  seemed  to 
invite  added  lustre  to  the  benign  countenances  of  Tol- 
lan's  former  rulers. 

With  a  shudder  of  repulsion  outlined  upon  his  features 
the  prophet  half  unconsciously  compared  them  to  the 
present  ruler,  and  he  murmured  impatiently:  "No,  no,  I 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  6/ 

dare  not  allow  myself  to  dwell  upon  such  thoughts,  for 
that  noble  element  of  progression  which  marked  the 
former's  worthy  rule  is  fast  retracing  its  march  down  the 
dark  lanes  of  ignorance  and  vice.  Despite  my  every  ef- 
fort to  the  contrary,  I  know  that  my  brow  will  darken  for- 
bidingly,  and  my  voice  take  on  a  scornful  tone  when  I 
enter  the  presence  of  the  monarch  of  Tollantzingo,  but 
I  shall  bury  my  nails  deep  into  my  feverish  palms  lest  I 
lay  violent  hands  upon  his  cringing  carcass  and  do  him 
injury. 

As  the  prophet  entered,  the  king  with  affected  pleasure 
exclaimed:  "Welcome,  Hueman;  welcome,  this  day 
shall  mark  the  proudest  of  my  reign — Come  hither,  Top- 
iltzin,  your  reward  for  accomplishing  this  last  great  vic- 
tory shall  be  this  large  handsome  armor-plate  of  gold 
which  will  shield  your  brave  heart  and  prove  your  merit 
to  the  world,  and  here  is  also  another  tassel  for  your  cap 
which  has  already  a  shower  of  emblems  marking  your 
victories.  Now,  summon  your  valient  braves  and  escort 
the  prisoners  to  the  sacrifice,  and  then  return  to  the  feast 
and  ball." 

With  a  profound  bow  of  thanks  and  a  soldierly  salute, 
the  brave  young  general  departed  as  he  was  bidden,  and 
the  prophet  breathed  a  sigh  of  relief  as  his  straight  col- 
ossal form  was  lost  in  the  distance,  and  he  was  rudely 
awakened  from  a  vision  of  the  future  by  the  rasping 
voice  of  the  king,  who  said : 

"Hueman,  last  night  a  beastly  dream  disturbed  my 
slumbers,  and  I  suffered  all  of  the  torments  of  the  in- 
fernal region,  and  when  I  arose  at  break  of  dawn  to 
breathe  the  welcome  balm  of  heaven  within  my  garden, 
a  rabbit  crossed  my  path  with  horns  like  an  elk  and 
bounded  away,  but  did  return  for  the  third  time,  now  tell 


68  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

me  by  the  power  of  your  art,  what  signifies  so  strange  and 
unnatural  a  creature?" 

"It  is  the  first  of  three  distinct  warnings,  and  signifies 
that  this  dominion  of  yours  King  Tecpantcaltzin  is  doom- 
ed r 

"Impossible,  each  vine  and  fig-tree  in  my  domain  is 
flourishing;  mine  armies  return  victorious,  and  my  peo- 
ple are  all  thriving  and  well." 

"Then  why  task  my  knowledge  if  you,  too,  can  proph- 
esy?" 

"Hueman,  are  you  not  mindful  to  whom  you  are  speak- 
ing? Your  king,  addresses  his  subject." 

"Forsooth,  I  had  forgotten  that,  this  hybrid  animal 
which  posed  for  your  especial  benefit  upset  all  of  my 
thoughts  of  kingly  rank  and  file,  and  I  would  that  it  had 
made  its  unwelcome  appearance  upon  any  day  but  this; 
it  is  surely  a  forerunner  of  calamities  that  will  crowd 
upon  you,  and  I  believe  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant 
when  you  will  neither  question  the  intonation  of  your 
subject's  voice  nor  his  manner  of  speech." 

"Hueman,  have  a  care !  Only  for  the  eccentricities  of 
age  creeping  upon  you,  I  would  never  overlook  this  ar- 
rogance which  so  ill  becomes  you,  and  I  trust  that  when 
the  music  of  the  dancers  begins  it  will  have  the  power  to 
subdue  your  savage  spirit  which  can  emanate  from  one 
cause  alone.  A  short  time  hence  the  princess  will  appear 
to  receive  the  signet  of  her  rank  and  congratulations." 

"What  princess  ?" 

"Beautiful  Xochitl,  the  daughter  of  brave  general  Pa- 
pantzin." 

"She,  a  princess?" 

"Yes,  Hueman;  but  see,  yonder  she  approaches,  so 
fair  and  graceful ;  like  a  very  queen,  she  carries  her  proud 
head." 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  69 

"Come  hither,  Princess  Xochitl,  and  receive  the  bril- 
liant emblem  of  your  newly  appointed  rank;  this  price- 
less necklace  so  deftly  interwoven  with  precious  jewels, 
befits  a  queen;  these  gleaming  pendants  will  rise  and  fall 
with  each  gentle  respiration  proclaiming  to  the  world 
the  fact  that  you  belong  henceforth  to  the  king's  house- 
hold. Ye  courtiers,  salute  the  chosen  princess  of  my 
realm ;  now  let  the  voice  of  music  fill  the  air  and  the  boun- 
teous feast  be  spread." 

"Hueman,  are  you  entranced?  I  thought  you  would 
be  first  among  those  who  offer  congratulations  to  the 
newly  appointed  princess." 

"Methinks  the  gracious  light  of  heaven  never  caressed 
the  brow  of  a  fairer  maid  than  she — "and  now,  you  are 
indeed  a  princess,  dear  Xochitl,  but  the  same  true  loving 
heart  throbs  in  your  breast  which  has  ever  responded  to 
noble  and  unselfish  aims ;  no  rich  behest  nor  lavish  flattery 
can  destroy  the  truthful  spirit  housed  within  your  gentle 
soul — believe  not  half  your  ears  must  hearken  to,  nor 
half  your  eyes  behold — you  have  yet  to  learn  the  selfish 
motives  that  lurks  in  sceptered  power  which  can  ruth- 
lessly poise  the  cup  of  sorrow  to  your  lips  until  you  drain 
it  to  the  dregs,  but  remember  that  the  prophet  of  Tollant- 
zingo  is  your  staunch  friend,  ever  pleading  at  the  feet  of 
the  Supreme  Deity  in  your  behalf." 

"Hueman,  this  sounds  to  me  like  treachery!  Some 
hidden  compact  between  you  two  which  has  a  double 
meaning  disrespectful  to  me,  your  Sovereign,  it  is  rank 
unkindness  to  mingle  words  of  sadness  and  distrust  into 
her  glad  heart  now." 

"King  Tecpantcaltzin,  look  into  the  depths  of  those 
dark  expressive  eyes  that  mirror  her  truthful  soul  and 
tell  me  if  I  did  by  a  single  hair's  breadth  waver  the  doubt 
within  her  troubled  bosom?  Does  a  glad  heart  sadden 


7O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

those  sweeping  lashes  that  linger  upon  her  rounded 
cheeks?  Does  a  glad  heart  heave  with  unbidden  sighs 
and  startle  with  a  sense  of  danger?  Does  it  tension  the 
nerves  and  forbode  the  air  she  breathes?  No  fleeting 
fawn  pursued  by  a  hunter's  merciless  aim  ever  scented 
keener  need  of  the  secure  abiding  place  of  its  mother's 
fold  than  she." 

"Hueman,  I  verily  believe  that  your  brain  is  wander- 
ing, otherwise  I  would  not  excuse  you  for  this  morbid 
speech,  and  I  beg  of  our  fair  young  Princess  to  make 
known  her  feelings  upon  the  subject." 

Xochitl  raised  her  soulful  eyes  to  the  admiring  ones  •* 
the  king  and  said: 

"King  Tecpantcaltzin,  I  humbly  offer  you  my  grateful 
thanks  for  these  tokens  of  royal  favor  which  you  have 
this  day  conferred  upon  me;  I  hardly  believe  that  my 
discovery  merits  so  many  honors ;  my  heart  never  yearn- 
ed for  rank  or  prestige,  but  I  shall  always  feel  grateful 
to  you  for  your  kindness  and  generosity  this  day — to  my 
life-long  friend  and  gentle  adviser,  Hueman — I  owe  the 
inspiration  that  led  my  faltering  and  reluctant  footsteps 
to  your  throne  for  recognition  of  my  pleasing  discovery." 

The  face  of  the  king  brightened  as  she  modestly  made 
the  avowel  and  he  said : 

"You  have  spoken  wisely  and  well  and  you  scarcely 
realize  the  benefit  of  your  discovery  to  our  nation,  especi- 
ally valuble  in  place  of  wine,  and  our  physicians  say  that 
it  is  quite  as  nutritious;  and  as  to  Hueman  in  extenua- 
tion of  his  dire  forebodings  and  half-revealed  prophe- 
sies— which  I  frankly  admit  surpass  my  understanding — 
I  forgive  him  all  of  his  seeming  discourtesy,  feeling  con- 
vinced that  the  well  being  of  his  king  and  all  of  his  sub- 
jects are  of  moment  to  him.  And  now  we  will  hasten  to 
the  banquet  hall  for  the  festal  board  is  spread." 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  fl 

The  aged  priest  followed  the  guests  slowly  and  medita- 
tively to  the  dining  hall,  musing  meanwhile  upon  the 
words  of  Xochitl  to  the  king — ah,  sweet  Xochitl,  the  wis- 
dom of  your  little  artless  speech  averted  a  cloud,  no 
larger  at  that  auspicious  moment  than  mine  interlaced 
hands  and  ready  palms;  but  had  he  dared  to  give  utter- 
ance to  or  insinuate  a  repetition  of  his  former  ignoble 
threat,  that  cloud  would  have  gathered  a  blinding  curtain 
which  had  covered  the  entire  firmament  of  his  domain. 
He  invites  me  to  his  festal-board,  draped  with  the  rich 
fabrics  of  my  royal  ancestors  and  tempting  viands  of 
Toltec  culinary  are  displayed  upon  golden  services  which 
the  ingenuity  of  my  fore-fathers  wrought. 

To  the  right  and  left  of  the  king  are  seated  his  brothers 
Cauhtli  and  Maxtlatzin,  whom  he  uses  as  lapstones  upon 
which  to  vent  his  anger  and  malign  with  curses  which 
he  longs  to  visit  upon  me — but  there  beside  my  own  To- 
piltzin  they  have  seated  the  newly  appointed  princess — 
can  this  have  been  accident  or  design?  Has  Topiltzin 
spoken  and  received  acquiescence  from  the  king?  If  so, 
his  majesty  deserves  henceforth  and  shall  have  a  far 
more  exalted  place  in  my  opinion  than  he  has  previously 
earned  in  his  whole  career ;  and  I  have  never  seen  him  in 
such  a  spirit  of  exuberant  merriment,  jokes  and  peals  of 
laughter  drown  the  sweet  strains  of  music  that  lend  an 
especial  charm  to  the  gorgeous  scene. 

Fresh  cut  roses  of  varied  and  delicate  shades  grace 
the  banquet  board  and  festoon  the  pictures  and  garland 
the  gleaming  pillars.  How  beautiful  and  becoming  are 
those  richly  tinted  garments  which  adorn  the  fair  young 
princess — a  flowing  white  billowy  robe,  heavily  embroid- 
ered in  leaves  and  flowers  of  silver  and  gold,  across  her 
shoulders  flung  gracefully — is  the  mantle  of  state  made 
from  the  brilliant  breasts  of  many  wildwood  songsters 


72  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

which  were  wont  to  pierce  the  heavens  with  their  career- 
ing, tireless  wings. 

Who  can  for  a  moment  doubt  the  look  of  tenderness 
and  trust  which  shines  in  her  dark  expressive  eyes  as 
she  blushingly  meets  the  answering  ones  of  her  beloved 
Topiltzin — ah,  how  can  I  have  been  so  utterly  blind  until 
now — the  king  rivets  her  attention  with  these  words : 

"Princess  Xochitl,  the  new  found  beverage,  wine  of 
maguey,  has  taken  unto  itself  a  voice  of  strength  in  fer- 
mentation and  in  its  forced  departure  must  therefore  be 
provided  with  another  appelation  and  to  you  alone  re- 
mains the  choice  of  names  which  the  fiery  draught  shall 
bear." 

"Most  gracious  king,  since  you  kindly  honor  me  with 
the  bestowal,  I  would  it  were  called  octli,  in  commemor- 
ation of  its  parentage." 

"How  rightly  named — even  you,  wise  Hueman,  could 
scarcely  find  a  more  deserving  title,  and  each  guest  shall 
offer  us  his  criticism  in  its  behalf;  I  believe  that  it  yields 
life-giving  properties  within  its  sparkling  depths." 

We  drank  the  charming  octli  in  mugs  of  solid  gold  and 
each  guest  proclaimed  its  merit  in  laudatory  tones  and 
I,  too,  must  confess  that  it  lost  naught  in  fermentation. 

After  the  banquet  was  over  the  king's  household  re- 
tired to  their  chambers  to  indulge  in  rest  and  slumber  for 
a  brief  period  and  while  they  are  thus  engaged  I  may 
perchance  have  speech  with  Topiltzin. 

Here  in  a  sequestered  corner  of  the  palace  grounds 
twelve  dusky  warriors  with  gaily  tinted  coronets  of  wav- 
ing plumes  are  enjoying  their  favorite  game;  with  an 
orange  shaped  ball  of  solid  rubber  which  they  fling 
through  the  center  of  a  chiseled  disc  of  hammered  gold 
blazing  with  gems  which  is  secured  several  feet  above 
the  earth  and  gleams  mischievously  in  the  midday  sun; 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  73 

they  dance,  they  glide,  they  whirl,  they  jostle  each  other 
in  ecstacy  like  romping  children  while  preventing  the  cat- 
astrophe of  the  capricious  ball  falling  to  earth.  They 
dare  not  use  a  hand  to  aid  it,  but  must  send  it  back  with 
their  knees. 

"May  the  Supreme  Deity  forefend  us,  Topiltzin,  what 
causes  that  angry  frown  to  pleat  your  brow  ?" 

"Mine  indignant  lips  almost  refuse  to  do  my  bidding. 
Come,  let  us  stride  the  length  and  breadth  of  these 
grounds  until  I  summon  strength  to  tell  you  all,  Hueman ; 
to  tell  what  fearful  orders  that  brutal  king  has  just  made 
known  to  me." 

"Patience,  Topiltzin,  the  treacherous  carnal  beast  is  in 
my  power — and  yet  were  I  to  smite  him  with  my  will  into 
helplessness  it  would  not  be  just — I  would  not  wield  the 
magic  of  my  art  upon  any  living  thing  save  in  defense — 
speak  on  my  kin,  it  will  aid  you  to  curb  your  growing 
wrath  to  share  its  weight  with  me." 

"He  did  forsooth  gladden  my  heart  with  an  armor- 
plate  of  gold,  and  bade  me  to  his  feast,  seating  me  beside 
my  loved  one.  Oh,  how  I  wished  that  meal  would  never 
end,  but  when  he  arose  he  beckoned  me  to  him,  and  in 
commanding  and  vehement  tones  bade  me  summon  my 
victorious  braves  together  and  choose  therefrom  one 
thousand  for  the  sacrifice!  Stunned  and  bewildered,  I 
stood  before  that  beetle-browed  inhuman  wretch,  waging 
war  with  that  element  in  my  bosom  that  urged  me  to 
clutch  his  villianous  throat  and  throttle  him  there  and 
then.  Thus  you  see,  Hueman,  he  placed  my  would-be 
confidence  beyond  the  pale  of  reason.  I  would  not  speak 
my  loved  one's  name  in  the  presence  of  that  vile  and  loath- 
some creature." 

"That  brutal  order  must  not,  shall  not  be  carried  into 
effect ;  but,  too  well  I  see  through  all  of  this  thinly  veiled 


74  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

strategy,  and  know  his  subterfuge.  He  has  made  the  im- 
portant discovery  which  I  had  been  so  dumb  in  learning, 
and  now  he  would  cripple  your  forces  that  you  may  be 
overpowered  by  our  enemies.  Never!  Go,  call  your 
braves  together,  even  as  the  unfeeling  beast  has  com- 
manded, and  wait  until  I  entreat  him  to  recall  those  mur- 
derous words/' 

"And  if  you  fail,  Hueman,  what  then  ?" 

"Then  I  will  hasten  to  the  temple  walls,  mount  them 
and  sound  the  mighty  war-gong — the  screaming  Teohue- 
huetl!  And  how  gladly  will  he  call  upon  your  staunch 
brave  warriors  then,  while  trembling  in  the  fear  of  ap- 
proaching enemies,  and  when  he  orders  the  gates  of  Tol- 
lantzingo  to  be  opened  for  your  army  to  pass  through, 
hasten  to  the  relief  of  our  besieged  missionaries  in  the 
far  north  who  have  repeatedly  besought  aid  from  this  wily 
king.  Each  runner  sent  by  them  he  has  enlisted  into  the 
imperial  guards,  thus  proving  clearly  that  he  has  not  the 
remotest  intention  of  lending  them  any  assistance  what- 
ever. I  have  remonstrated  with  him  all  to  no  purpose, 
and  it  rests  with  you  alone  to  succor  them." 

"And  what  of  my  loved  one,  Hueman !  I  cannot  leave 
her  here!" 

"Fear  not  for  her,  my  Topiltzin.  I  will  guard  her  with 
my  art,  and  with  my  life  if  need  be.  And  when  you  are 
far  enough  from  any  blabbing  tongue  reveal  that  fearful 
mandate  ordered  by  the  king.  It  is  your  sacred  duty  to 
relieve  our  imprisoned  missionaries  who  are  besieged  by 
savages  who  will  not  accept  civilization,  and  who  are  de- 
termined to  destroy  the  noble  band.  The  latest  messenger 
from  there  besought  with  tears  and  prayers  for  their  re- 
lief, and  assured  the  king  that  they  could  not  possibly  hold 
out  but  for  a  few  moons  more." 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  75 

"And  you?  Oh,  my  noble  Hueman,  what  if  he  seeks 
to  learn  by  whose  authority  the  war-gong  sounds  ?" 

"Trust  me  for  that.  In  all  those  bygone  centuries  it 
never  has  been  rung  amiss,  his  fear  will  cancel  every  fore- 
thought, and  I  will  linger  in  the  belfry  tower  until  the 
city  is  hushed  in  slumber  that  I  may  retrace  my  steps 
unseen.  There  is  no  chance  for  me  to  be  missed  in  the 
great  excitement  which  will  surely  follow." 

"And  if  he  dares  harm  you,  Hueman,  I  swear  by  all 
my  hope  of  heaven  that  he  himself  shall  feel  the  sting  of 
death  upon  the  martyr  stone !" 

"He  sees  your  power  increasing  day  by  day,  and  fears 
the  grave  result,  as  well  he  may,  for  tyranny  has  made  a 
coward  of  his  soul." 

"I  will  obey  your  wish,  Hueman,  and  save  our  noble 
friends,  and  my  brave  men,  and  may  the  Supreme  Deity 
guard  and  protect  you  and  my  loved  one,  and  now  adieu." 

The  aged  priest  pressed  him  again  and  again  to  his 
bosom  with  farewell  blessings,  and  then  hastened  to  the 
palace  where  the  ball  was  in  progress,  and  the  guests  were 
all  crowned  and  adorned  with  roses  which  lent  an  added 
charm  to  the  gay  and  festive  scene.  They  were  dancing 
the  favorite  areyto,  which  is  danced  in  circles,  and  each 
brave  carried  some  instrument  of  music  upon  which  he 
played  keeping  perfect  time  with  eager  feet. 

Bright-faced  mischievous  boys  dressed  in  gaily  tinted 
fabrics  and  vivid  plumes  representing  birds  and  butter- 
flies, mounted  the  flower  trees,  while  men  who  were  dress- 
ed as  gods  laughingly  attempted  to  capture  them  before 
they  were  beyond  their  grasp.  They  scaled  the  minature 
temple  wall  and  approached  on  stilts  the  rose  bower  of 
the  fairy  queen,  who  welcomed  them  within  her  lofty 
home  and  treated  them  to  refreshments  which  consisted 
of  tobacco  mixed  with  dried  rose  leaves  prepared  in  husks 


76  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

of  maize.  They  relished  the  diversion  of  vying  with  each 
other  in  sending  spiral  columns  of  bluish  grey  smoke  to- 
ward the  temple  dome. 

At  last  the  dancers  paused  their  circling  feet,  and  the 
prophet  hastened  forward  to  broach  the  fearful  subject 
nearest  his  heart  in  the  very  face  of  all  the  revelry. 

"Ruler  of  Tollantzingo,  will  you  kindly  grant  me  an 
interview?  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  cannot 
be  postponed  a  moment  more." 

"With  pleasure,  wise  Hueman,  unless  you  strive  to 
dampen  mine  ardor  with  dreary  forebodings  yet  again." 

"The  boon  I  crave  is  in  your  own  behalf,  and  for  our 
country's  weal.  I  implore  you  retract  the  fearful  order 
you  have  given  to  send  one  thousand  of  your  bravest  men 
to  die  upon  the  martyr  stone !  Can  you  not  realize  the  ex- 
treme folly  of  such  a  course?  Their  welcome  shouts  of 
victory  have  scarcely  ceased  to  reverberate  in  the  vale  of 
Tollantzingo.  Your  country  needs  their  protecting  arms 
now.  Do  not  forget  that  you  have  had  the  first  of  three 
distinct  warnings  from  the  Supreme  Deity  of  whose 
anger  I  warn  you  to  beware!" 

"The  god  of  war,  Huitzilopochtli,  demands  the  sacri- 
fice which  will  offset  the  curse  of  that  hybrid  warning 
which  has  disturbed  me  mightily,  and  I  dare  not  refuse  to 
obey  the  command  revealed  to  me  by  the  great  high  priest 
from  the  god." 

"Who  hatched  this  craven  scheme  but  you?  Tell  me 
that  graven  chunk  of  gold  knows  aught  of  war?  Cares 
aught  for  peace?  Or  knows  of  heaven-sent  warnings? 
As  well  protest  these  whitened  walls  have  tongues  and 
ears !" 

"Hueman,  I  am  too  sorely  tried  with  all  your  gloom 
and  wasted  eloquence.  It  is  better  for  your  peace  of 
mind  and  mine  that  you  seek  your  favorite  nook  and 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  77 

skirmish  with  your  prowling  energies  among  the  stars. 
Bear  this  in  mind — when  once  mine  orders  have  gone 
forth,  I  King  Tecpantcaltzin,  ruler  of  all  of  the  Tollan 
kingdom  never  will  retract  them  for  any  meddlesome 
whim." 

"In  very  truth  I  might  have  known  it  would  be  thus 
had  I  but  stopped  to  reason  with  my  plea.  It  is  only  wise 
progressive  men  who  change  their  worthy  minds." 

"Hueman,  by  my  faith,  I  will  grant  you  this  request,  if 
by  the  power  of  your  art  you  will  disclose  to  me  the 
whereabouts  of  the  wonderful  and  valuable  Toltec 
treasures  ?" 

"I  am  my  honored  father's  son!"  He  dared  not  raise 
his  guilty  eyes  to  mine,  and  it  were  well  for  him  that  my 
waning  powers  held  me  in  check.  On  with  your  dancing 
whirling  feet;  keep  time  to  your  own  stirring  melodies, 
until  your  tawny  cheeks  shall  blanch  in  fear  and  your 
merry  tones  tremble  at  the  shrieks  of  the  screaming  Teo- 
huehuetl ! 

Clearly  outlined  against  the  darkening  rays  of  dying 
day  stands  my  brave  Topiltzin,  his  straight,  colossal  form 
towering  majestically  at  the  head  of  his  valiant  army, 
and  above  him  waves  the  brilliant  ensign,  while  grouped 
in  fantastic  war-garb  are  his  willing  braves,  their  voices 
hushed  in  whispers  lest  one  little  word  be  lost  that  falls 
from  his  stern  lips.  They  little  dream  what  ruthless  or- 
ders called  them  forth  to  die  a  martyrs  death !  There  is 
but  just  one  way  to  save  them  and  save  our  kingdom 
from  civil  strife,  and  if  through  age  I  fail,  oh,  thou  Su- 
preme Deity,  lend  them  aid  to  save  themselves. 

The  niches  in  these  frowning  walls  were  made  for 
nimbler,  steadier  hands  and  feet  than  mine,  and  I  dare  not 
trust  my  fading  eyes  to  look  downward.  Upward,  onward, 
one  life  stands  in  the  balance  now  to  save  one  thousand 


78  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

braves !  My  breath  grows  faint,  I  scarce  can  find  where 
next  to  move  my  hands.  Oh,  nerve  me  with  some  latent 
force  for  just  one  moment  more.  My  feet  are  giving 
way!  My  hands  grasp  space.  Oh,  heaven  be  praised,  I 
stand  beneath  the  mighty  war-alarm!  Here  are  the  re- 
sounding hammers  to  ring  the  clarion  peal.  Oh,  murder- 
ous clang!  It  shrieks  like  million  demons  in  mine  ears, 
my  burning  brain  I  fear  will  melt  and  shrivel  at  its  roar. 
"Ha,  wanton  king,  methinks  e'er  this  your  frivolous 
mind  conceives  the  value  of  one  thousand  braves!" 


JHE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  79 


CHAPTER  VI. 

WHAT  wondrous  sight  is  this  ?  The  broad  bright  glare 
of  morning  greets  mine  eyes  resplendent  in  a  thousand 
vivid  gleams.  Above  and  around  me  I  see  naught  but  end- 
less space — am  I  then  transported  to  the  realms  of  spirit- 
land?  Ah,  no;  my  aching  form  forbids  the  thought.  I 
still  am  pinned  to  earth,  and  this  my  pallet  hard  the  whole 
night  through  has  been  the  tower  floor. 

My  cramped  and  wearied  limbs  almost  refuse  to  do  my 
bidding.  How  deep  has  been  my  slumber,  no  sound  of 
human  voice  nor  soughing  winds  awoke  my  grateful  calm 
the  whole  night  through.  Perchance  my  angel  loved  one 
hovered  near  to  guard  me  while  I  slept,  her  starry  eyes 
are  ever  gazing  into  mine. 

I  wonder  where  is  he,  my  troubled  Topiltzin?  But  I 
must  learn  if  this,  my  ruse,  has  proved  successful. 

I  must  return  the  very  dangerous  way  I  came,  praying 
that  no  evil  eyes  will  mark  my  trembling  form.  Into  Thy 
gracious  care  I  now  consign  this  poor  old  tottering  frame 
of  mine  to  fall  to  earth  mangled  and  dead !  If  all  my 
earthly  task  is  done,  or  spare  me  if  Thou  wilt  to  labor  yet 
a  little  more  for  Thy  grand  cause. 

It  is  at  last  accomplished.  My  willing  hands  are  de- 
voutly raised  in  the  embrace  of  prayer.  Oh,  it  is  sweet 
to  be  thus  assured  that  the  guardian  of  the  heavens  has 
further  need  of  me  on  earth.  But  what  is  this  I  hear? 
Some  great  commotion  has  seized  the  excited  populace. 


8O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

They  wail  in  dire  distress  and  fear!     "Ho,     Papantzin, 
what  causes  all  of  this  great  commotion?" 

"My  child,  Hueman,  my  precious  one  is  gone!  Some 
say  she  fled  at  sound  of  the  Teohuehuetl's  deafening 
roar,  and  others  that  a  dark-browed  chieftain  who  led  the 
invading  hosts  scaled  the  parapet  and  bore  her  away  in 
his  brawny  arms.  Ezcolotl  declares  she  saw  her  mount 
a  tiger  of  the  purest  white  and  raise  her  two  arms  aloft 
as  if  in  prayer,  while  the  lithsome,  viscious  beast  growled 
frantically  and  reared  his  glossy  head  treading  the  fields 
or  air  until  lost  to  view  in  the  ethereal  mist  of  heaven." 

"How  utterly  impossible,  Papantzin;  what  said  the 
king?" 

"Di'd  place  his  royal  hands  upon  her  mother's  brow  and 
swear  that  she  should  be  returned  to  us." 

"When  saw  you  last  your  child,  Papantzin?" 

"I  joined  the  dancers  while  she  sat  by  her  mother  near 
the  king.  I  saw  you  enter  to  have  speech  with  him,  and 
all  was  joy  and  happiness  until  the  screeching  war-alarm 
rang  through  those  pillared  halls.  Men  paled  and  clutch- 
ed their  weapons.  Children  screamed  and  rushed  franti- 
cally to  their  sheltering  mother's  arms,  women  fainted  and 
lay  unconscious  upon  the  floor  while  the  king's  army 
surged  upon  the  scene  with  ready  weapons,  and  the  con- 
quering army  of  Topiltzin  rushed  through  the  gates  of 
Tollantzingo.  So  quickly  and  fearfully  under  the  ter- 
rible menace  did  these  things  occur  that  I  did  not  miss  my 
child  for  hours  perchance.  Her  mother  has  gone  mad 
with  fear,  for  when  I  sought  her  and  my  child  she  neither 
saw  nor  heard  me.  Her  eyes  are  widened  in  a  wordless 
horror,  and  even  yet  no  sign  has  passed  her  lips.  She  lives 
and  breathes,  but  in  that  awful  state  which  is  neither  life 
nor  death.  Where  have  you  been,  Hueman?  I  sought 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  8 1 

3rou  everywhere.  At  midnight  hour  I  climbed  the  dark- 
ened tower  wherein  you  hold  communion  with  the  stars." 

"Some  mighty  spell  enthralled  me,  Papantzin.  I  know 
not  of  a  solitary  sound  since  the  wild  alarm  had  ceased 
its  dreadful  roar  until  the  dawn  of  day." 

"Saw  you  the  king  this  morn?" 

"No,  I  have  just  aroused  from  that  strange  lethargy. 
Have  you  had  speech  with  him?" 

"I  did  at  break  of  day.  He  staid  all  night  in  Palpan 
tower,  from  which  lofty  heights  he  declared  his  eyes  could 
sweep  for  leagues  around.  Now  he  has  sought  his  couch 
to  rest  I  am  told." 

"On  Palpan  heights !  Well,  that  is  strange  indeed  that 
he  should  venture  there  to  mount  that  pinnacle  in  time  of 
war !  Methinks  there  loiters  around  his  throne  many  with 
keener  eyes  than  his  to  pierce  the  gloom,  and  many  with 
surer  feet  than  his  to  climb  that  cliff." 

"Quite  true,  Hueman,  but  he  was  scourged  with  fear. 
A  runner  came  into  court  who  declared  a  million  Tez- 
cocans  were  hurrying  down  the  mountain  side  to  attack 
us  from  the  north  while  from  the  south  a  horde  of  Chichi- 
mecas  crouched  beside  each  sheltering  bush  and  thorn 
awaiting  the  onslaught  of  the  Tezcocans  in  order  to  make 
the  surprise  and  consternation  more  complete." 

"I  shall  return  to  my  cavern  home,  Papantzin  to  study 
these  strange  things  over  in  solitude.  Some  plan  of  speedy 
action  must  be  found  to  solve  this  deep  laid  mystery  and 
if  your  child  has  fled  from  earth  I  will  tell  you  when  we 
meet  again — if  not,  I  know  a  certain  way  to  make  the 
dumb  ones  talk  and  the  deaf  ones  hear." 

"But  what  of  my  wife,  Hueman?  I  fear  that  she 
never  will  regain  her  mind;  she  stares  so  idiotically  into 
my  eyes,  while  into  hers  I  fail  to  see  one  latent  gleam  of 


82  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"And  was  she  thus  when  first  you  missed  your  child  ?" 
"She  was,  Hueman.  No  power  of  speech  could  move 
that  senseless  spell  which  enveloped  her;  listless  by  her 
side  hang  both  her  hands  just  as  I  dropped  them  in  my 
grief  long  hours  ago;  the  king  bade  me  remain  beside 
her  while  my  command  joined  with  the  imperial  guards, 
who  are  searching  the  city  now  from  end  to  end." 

"When  I  return  I  will  mark  her  symptoms  well  and 
lead  her  wandering  thoughts  to  answer  to  my  call." 

"May  all  the  gods  of  heaven  and  earth  aid  you  now, 
Hueman,  and  oh,  I  trust  that  not  many  hours  may  elapse 
before  you  will  return." 

"Be  patient  Papantzin,  for  just  a  short  time  longer." 
As  he  departed  the  prophet  shook  his  head  sadly  and 
murmured,  "Oh  woe  is  me,  if  in  the  wake  of  this,  my 
false  alarm,  such  misery  must  follow — how  well  they 
people  every  shrub  and  tree,  each  rock  and  hedge,  with 
imaginary  foes,  when  the  demoniac  cries  of  the  war 
alarm  penetrate  the  very  graves  of  those  who  perished 
at  its  call.  Perchance  by  fate  it  were  not  rang  amiss, 
there  may  have  been  some  marauding  hosts  advancing 
near.  I  fear,  and  almost  hope  that  Topiltzin  in  a  moment 
of  reckless  daring  obeyed  the  urging  voice  of  love  that 
bade  him  seize  the  maid  and  flee !  In  all  of  the  rush  and 
terror  of  that  crowd  it  may  have  been  an  easy  task,  one 
magic  word  from  him  would  still  her  fears  through  all 
of  the  coming  years  with  him ;  but  he  were  rash  indeed  to 
take  her  thus  when  such  a  perilous  task  is  his  to  rescue 
our  besieged  people  in  the  far  north,  who  have  sacrificed 
everything  in  their  endeavor  to  civilize  those  brutal  peo- 
ple to  whom  knowledge  serves  only  as  a  fire-brand !  But 
I  am  mightily  puzzled  over  this  new  departure  of  the 
king — it  is  very  strange  indeeed,  that  he  should  climb 
the  Palpan  heights  in  time  of  war,  too,  when  the  shadowy 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  83 

t 

veil  of  night  curtained  and  dimmed  our  fair  Tollan;  can 
he  have  done  so,  has  he  dared?  No,  no,  a  way  such  thoughts, 
I  will  not  harbor  them — and  yet,  and  yet  the  dreadful  con- 
viction grows  upon  me,  it  maddens  me  with  fury  which 
stifles  me.  Away — away  thou  imp  of  evil  thought — the 
truth  of  all  his  evil  motives  he  cannot  hide  from  me;  ah, 
there  his  messenger  is  coming  now,  and  I  am  really  cur- 
ious to  know  what  ugly  dream  has  racked  his  scheming 
brain,  for  by  my  faith,  in  all  these  years  he  has  never  had 
a  pleasant  one,  and  when  my  waning  powers  refuse  to 
act,  who  then  will  tell  his  wierd,  uncanny  dreams?  In 
that  alone  by  him  I  shall  be  missed,  only  for  this  heaven- 
sent gift  of  mine  how  gladly  would  he  close  those  palace 
gates  against  me  and  rid  himself  forever  of  my  poor 
lashing  tongue.  My  well-tried  strength  has  almost  de- 
serted me — I  must  have  been  faint  and  weakened  nearly 
unto  death  upon  yonder  temple  roof,  for  both  my  feet 
seem  tethered  and  my  hands  do  tremble  like  some  cul- 
prits ;  oh,  would  that  I  had  wings  wherewith  to  fly — this 
oft-trod  path  has  never  seemed  so  long  to  measure  as 
this  morn !" 

"Welcome,  thrice  welcome,  wise  Hueman,  your  king 
is  in  sore  need  of  your  prophetic  power.  Some  hours 
since,  as  in  my  garden-plat  I  wandered  forth,  a  flitting 
humming-bird  with  brilliant  hues  spread  forth  its  tiny 
lustrous  wings,  and  lo  a  monstrous  spur  was  then  re- 
vealed— nor  would  this  strange  misshapen  creature  leave 
my  path — what  does  it  signify,  Hueman?" 

"It  is  the  second  warning !  Unto  you,  there  still  remains 
one  other  and  when  that  dreaded  one  appears,  tKe  earth 
and  sky  will  strive  with  furies  in  their  power  to  sweep 
the  Toltec  race  from  out  this  land." 

"Oh  Hueman,  Hueman!  I  swear  by  all  the  efods  of 
Tollantzingo,  reveal  to  me  for  once  and  if  need  be  the 


84  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

only  time,  something  beside  this  overwelming  misfor- 
tune and  endless  misery." 

"Then  train  your  eyes  to  see  no  mongrel  creature,  your 
ears  forbid  to  hear  one  hateful  sound,  torture  the  god  of 
sleep  until  he  brings  you  all  of  the  fairy  dreams  for  which 
you  crave." 

'That  were  impossible  with  me,  but  you,  forsooth, 
might  call  your  art  to  bear  upon  these  trying  things  that 
mock  me  and  make  them  do  your  bidding.  Now  tell  me, 
wise  Hueman,  by  virtue  of  your  marked  ability,  where 
has  the  sweet  young  princess,  fair  Xochitl  gone?" 
"Do  you  not  know?" 

"I!  That  were  a  cunning  way  indeed  to  evade  my 
question.  Now  Prophet,  I  command  you,  by  the  power 
of  my  rank,  to  answer  me." 

"I  cannot  say  but  sir,  my  art  will  tell  me  soon.  What 
evil  power  lamed  the  tongue  and  halted  the  understanding 
of  her  mother?" 

"How  should  I  know?  I  leave  that  to  your  wondrous 
skill  to  learn,  there  may  be  things  upon  this  earth  which 
will  puzzle  even  you  to  unravel  ?" 

"No  doubt  of  that,  I  am  learning  every  day  and  glad  to 
learn  from  every  living  thing;  but  remember!  there  re- 
mains just  one  more  sign,  when  you  will  tremble  at  what 
you  sneer  today." 

"The  gods  forbid  it!  My  offering  to  their  ire  shall 
be  increased  tenfold !  My  deep  and  fervent  devotion 
shall  grow  each  coming  day  and  that  I,  too,  shall  feel  a 
flagellation  I  have  inflicted  upon  myself  the  punishment 
of  climbing  Palpan  heights  each  rise  of  morn,  or  in  its 
ploomy  solitude  perchance  remain  the  long  watches  of 
the  night  to  fast  and  pray,  thus  may  I  hope  to  assuage  the 
an^ry  powers." 

"But  do  not  conjure  in  your  brain  commands  from  that 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  8$ 

cold  chunk  of  molded  gold  wherewith  to  turn  the  warrior 
from  his  path,  the  laborer  from  his  fields  and  parents 
from  their  pleading  wives  and  children,  to  offer  up  their 
precious  lives  in  mockery!  Turn  your  eyes  which  way 
you  will,  you  behold  a  mighty  power  far  exceeding  yours ; 
crush  but  one  little  bud  beneath  your  heel  and  you  cannot 
command  its  faultless  symmetry  to  form  again;  put  out 
the  lamp  of  life  from  any  living  thing  and  you  have  no 
art,  no  science,  to  make  its  wonderful  mechanism  breathe 
again.  You  go  and  drench  that  senseless  thing  you  call 
your  god  in  wells  of  human  gore,  and  what  avail  the  sacri- 
fice !  Oh,  tear  from  your  eyes  that  dark,  obscuring  veil  of 
barbarous  ways  that  blinds  them,  and  has  let  years 
go  by  with  shameful  stains.  Think  you  the  ruler  of 
the  universe,  who  holds  the  reins  of  power  on  high,  has 
riveted  the  stars  in  place  and  draped  the  clouds  about 
them;  sent  the  glad  rays  of  welcome  sunlight  from  our 
heaven-creating  day  wherein  to  toil ;  called  us  down  behind 
the  bannered  horizon  to  close  the  active  hours  and  hush 
our  weary  brains  with  the  calm  influences  of  night,  think 
you  that  He  will  allow  you  to  go  unpunished  for  the  des- 
poliation of  humanity  ?  And  when  you  at  close  of  day  or 
rise  of  morn  scale  the  serried  rocks  of  Palpan  heights, 
feast  your  eyes  upon  the  majestic  array  of  sublime  works 
which  no  mortal  hands  have  builded  nor  mortal  brains 
conceived,  then  beware  of  Him,  who  can  raze  these 
towering  mountains  to  the  vale  or  tear  the  very  firmament 
in  twain!" 

"Hueman,  your  words  do  deeply  move  some  hidden  ele- 
ment within  my  being  which  struggles  to  awaken  loftier 
aims  and  nobler  plans  when  you  are  near.  Oh,  what 
might  I  not  accomplish  had  I  your  spirit  that  can  hold 
communion  with  the  mysterious  realms  of  starland.  My 


86  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

subjects  fear  and  revere  you  for  that  power  while  I,  their 
ruler,  hold  not  one  force  to  prove  myself  their  king." 

"Tecpantcaltzin,  now  is  the  accepted  time  for  you  to 
seek  out  and  cultivate  the  bruised  remnant  of  conscience 
which  was  your  birthright,  and  do  in  every  sense  as 
you  would  they  do.  Refrain  from  evil  thoughts  hence- 
forth, and  you  will  thus  erect  an  impregnable  bulwark 
of  defense  about  you  which  needs  no  vice  to  proclaim  its 
power,  nor  acts  of  violence  to  prove  you  king." 

As  the  prophet  uttered  these  words  he  silently  with- 
drew leaving  the  puzzled  king  more  mystified  than  ever, 
and  as  he  was  crossing  the  palace  grounds  he  was  ac- 
costed by  Papantzin  thus : 

"Hueman,  you  are  indeed  forgetting  me  and  mine.  This 
agony  of  soul  is  eating  up  my  life !  A  few  more  hours 
like  these  will  force  me,  too,  to  sink  beneath  the  load 
which  my  shoulders  cannot  bear.  Come,  lay  your  healing 
hands  upon  my  wife !" 

"Then  lead  me  to  the  place  wherein  she  lies." 

"See  how  still  she  is,  Hueman;  no  sign  of  life  but 
gentle  respiration;  it  is  evident  no  fever  surges  in  her 
veins.  What  can  those  staring,  senseless  eyes  behold? 
They  might  as  well  be  chiseled  orifices  of  stone,  for  aught 
they  tell!" 

"Your  wife  is  drugged,  and  nearly  unto  death!  Now 
mark  you  well  my  words — reveal  to  no  one  my. knowl- 
edge of  this  premeditated  crime !  I  know  a  charm  which 
will  cope  with  powers  like  these  and  conquer  them.  There 
was  a  network  of  intrigue  spread  within  the  palace  walls, 
but  the  film  which  covered  all  this  mystery  is  clear  as  day 
to  me  now.  Alas,  alas!  the  wild  pernicious  drug  they 
closed  her  with  you  know  well,  it  thrives  in  every  broad 
savanna,  dots  the  dimpled  dales  and  flaunts  its  trumpet- 
shaped  blossoms  in  the  common  hedge-row." 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"Oh,  not  Toloache !  Great  and  merciful  Supreme  De- 
ity, forbid!" 

"It  is,  I  grieve  to  tell  you  that  I  know  its  blighting 
power  too  well  to  be  mistaken.  No  surer,  swifter  means 
but  death  could  seal  her  tongue." 

"Hueman,  Hueman!  Do  drain  your  potent  skill  to 
make  her  speak ;  who  knows  what  dreadful  danger  lurks 
about  our  child,  and  she  must  know  who  seized  her  for 
they  were  always  inseparable." 

"Have  you  no  thought  upon  whom  may  rest  this 
double  crime?" 

"Think,  did  you  say?  No,  friend,  I  cannot  think  of 
aught  but  save  my  wife  and  child!  I  implore  you  to 
hasten  on  the  spell  which  will  banish  all  of  this  dreadful 
lethargy  that  I  fear  may  soon  end  in  death!  Can  I  not 
move  you  with  my  stammering  speech?  You  loved  our 
child,  Hueman ;  you  led  her  to  the  king." 

"Too  true,  alas !  I  led  her  to  the  king.  I  blindly  ig- 
nored her  gentle  plea  because  I  fancied  then  my  sense  of 
penetration  by  far  exceeded  hers  whose  soul  was  allied  to 
some  guardian  force  which  protested  vainly  against  the 
unwanted  honor.  I  will  return  in  good  time  and  bring  the 
antidote;  but  hearken,  Papantzin,  if  but  one  little  word 
escape  your  lips  concerning  this,  no  power  on  earth  can 
save  your  lives !  She  has  no  enemy  who  would  for  malice 
sake  strive  to  destroy  the  power  of  her  mind,  therefore 
be  on  your  guard,  and  watch  her  closely  until  I  can  re- 
turn." 

As  he  emerged  from  the  dwelling  of  Papantzin,  a 
shrinking,  skulking  form  hurried  on  before  him  cringing 
among  the  shadows  in  his  eagerness  to  escape  unseen ;  his 
sandled  feet  seemed  scarce  to  tread  the  beaten  path  in  his 
still  flight.  The  thought  that  became  almost  a  certainty 
alarmed  the  prophet  exceedingly  that  the  intruder  was  a 


88  !   THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

f 

spy.  One  sent  from  the  palace,  and  why  ?  What  motive 
sent  him  there.  Oh,  would  I  could  believe  that  Topiltzin 
did  seize  the  fair  young  princess  to  his  breast  while  fleet- 
ing on  like  furies  ride  the  storm;  but  if  that  were  true 
they  had  not  drugged  the  mother. 

Some  guardian  spirit  urges  me  with  speed  I  cannot 
malke,  for  all  my  strength  seems  weighted  down  with 
fears.  How  beautiful  our  city  gleams  from  this  tall  cliff; 
it  lies  embedded  in  this  festooned  vale  like  some  mam- 
moth jewel  with  its  glistening  domes  and  spiral  terraces 
where  blooms  the  blushing  rose  and  gleams  the  frescoed 
walls.  The  peaceful  lake  reflects  the  serried  banks  of 
cloud,  and  far  beyond  it  those  belching  lava  monsters  rear 
their  lofty  heads  and  rift  the  air  with  clouds  of  smoke  at 
times  rending  the  grateful  calm  with  threatening  roar. 
They  are  the  outlet  to  some  hidden  fires  burned  deep  like 
mine,  but  when  they  do  burst  forth  they  sweep  all  ob- 
stacles before  their  molten  lava  wall. 

Those  bright-winged,  crested  birds  that  rear  and  swerve 
and  sing,  do  mock  me  in  their  joyous  revelry,  and  cheer 
me  with  their  song.  These  tiny,  toiling  insects  at  my  feet, 
perchance  have  woes  to  bear  and  flights  to  climb  that 
weary  their  little  hearts  and  blister  their  hurrying  feet, 
and  yet  they  unite  their  feeble  forces  to  aid  and  accom- 
plish results  which  are  truly  wonderful. 

I  must  tear  my  longing  gaze  from  this  glorious  vale 
and  seek  the  precious  herb  that  can  restore  that  dormant 
mind  to  its  wonted  energy.  How  very  frail  grows  this 
precious  herb,  and  so  sensitive  that  it  shrivels  in  my 
grasp,  but  within  its  verdant  folds  lies  that  secret  power 
that  can  bid  the  very  grip  of  death  release  to  hold.  Now 
to  the  rescue !  But  why  does  Papantzin  advance  to  meet 
me  thus? 

"She  is  dead,  Hueman !  No  power  of  thine  can  save  her 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  89 

now.  Ye  gods,  if  I  could  only  weep  and  melt  my  burn- 
ing heart  and  brain.  I  scarce  can  see  or  hear,  or  feel, 
aught  but  this  crushing  burden  which  has  rent  my  very 
soul  in  twain!" 

"And  have  you  left  her  side  since  I  had  speech  with 
you?" 

"Yes,  Hueman ;  the  king  had  need  of  me  for  a  brief 
period  only,  and  when  I  returned  and  laid  my  hands  upon 
her  brow  it  startled  every  fibre  of  my  being  with  the  chill 
and  damp  of  death  that  glued  my  hands  upon  that  pallid 
face.  I  listened  for  the  fluttering  breath  that  had  held 
the  brittle  thread  of  life  together,  but  it  was  still.  She  is 
dead!  I  have  no  wife,  no  child,  no  light,  no  love;  nothing 
confronts  me  but  eternal,  blackest  night.  Oh,  pity  me, 
Hueman,  give  me,  too,  some  welcome  draught  that  will 
numb  my  senses  that  I,  too,  may  lay  down  and  sleep  that 
peaceful  slumber  whose  awakening  is  in  the  life  beyond." 

"Come,  Papantzin,  come  with  me  to  her  couch;  she  may 
have  only  fainted  for  a  spell." 

"Think  you  I  do  not  know  what  death  can  do?  Her 
staring  eyes  are  fixed  on  scenes  beyond  this  mortal 
sphere ;  her  dear  face  is  pallid  with  that  purplish  hue  that 
stabs  me  to  behold.  Come  my  friend  and  see  my  misery 
complete." 

"Alas !  Your  words  are  true,  and  it  were  useless  now 
to  talk  of  saving  her,  but,  see,  here  upon  her  cheek  and 
throat  and  breast  are  dark  and  curious  stains !" 

"I  gave  her  naught,  she  could  not  sip  one  drop  of  water 
when  I  tried  repeatedly  to  arouse  her  with  a  cool,  refresh- 
ing draught  long  hours  ago." 

"Come  home  with  me,  my  friend;  these  waiting 
women  have  been  sent  to  make  her  ready  for  her  dream- 
less sleep;  come,  take  my  arm,  it  is  stronger  even  now 
than  yours,  and  my  feet  are  surer  too,  although  cramped 


9O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

with  age.  But  sorrow  makes  one  old,  how  well  I  know — 
and  in  just  a  little  time  we  both  shall  cross  the  line  be- 
tween life  and  death,  and  what  a  joy  to  know  that  our 
loved  ones  are  awaiting  us  in  the  elysian  fields  and  watch- 
ing our  coming  home." 

"Speak  on,  Hueman,  your  voice  has  wondrous  sooth- 
ing for  my  soul;  from  its  depths  there  seems  to  blend 
a  note  of  woe  with  mine  that  brings  relief  to  me." 

"You  know  full  well  that  I  too  have  suffered,  Papant- 
zin,  grown  old  before  my  time  through  grief  alone — but 
let  us  strive  to  hide  our  woes.  Look  yonder  on  that  bank 
of  scurrying  clouds ;  see  those  gilded  tints  are  burnishing 
the  blue,  and  see — they  take  the  form  of  men.  They  move 
like  martialed  hosts  upon  the  field  of  some  great  battle. 
Between  us  and  those  lofty  heights  a  flight  of  birds  have 
poised  their  fluttering  wings  and  all  of  the  brightest  rays 
of  blazing  Sol  seem  focused  upon  them." 

"Mine  eyes  can  only  see  the  temple  dome  where  hangs 
the  dreaded  Teohuehuetl,  that  rang  the  knell  of  doom  to 
all  of  my  happiness.  Its  deafening  shriek  and  roar  has 
never  left  mine  ears.  I  want  to  die,  Hueman !" 

"Banish  that  morbid  thought  until  the  Supreme  Deity 
wills  you  to  cease  your  earthly  pilgrimage.  You  are  a 
soldier,  Papantzin,  and  have  been  victorious  until  now. 
Be  worthy  of  those  emblems  which  you  wear,  my  troubled 
friend,  and  show  your  implicit  trust  in  Him  who  guideth 
all  things  well.  Here,  lay  you  down  and  sleep,  the  sough- 
ing of  these  pitying  winds  among  the  branches  swaying 
about  my  rock-bound  dwelling  shall  murmur  of  the  glori- 
ous pathway,  walled  deep  with  rare  sweet  flowers,  leading 
to  our  far-off  sun-land  home.  Forget  all  else  save  the 
rippling  of  the  waves,  the  charm  of  wildwood  songsters, 
the  holy  hush  of  peace  supreme.  Sleep,  sleep,  sleep !" 

Poor  stricken  soul,  my  art  shall  give  you  gentle  slumber 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  9 1 

until  your  heart  is  soothed  and  relaxed  from  the  terrible 
strain  which  crushed  your  lofty  spirit  for  a  spell.  *  *  * 

"And  have  I  slept,  Hueman?  What  empty  hours  have 
been  crowded  into  my  life,  devoid  of  purpose,  when  there 
is  so  much  undone.  The  daylight  gone!  I,  too,  must 
go,  Hueman." 

"Not  until  you  refresh  yourself  with  my  frugal  fare, 
Papantzin." 

"Accept  my  grateful  thanks,  good  friend,  for  your 
proffered  hospitality,  but  really  there  is  a  hindrance  in 
my  throat,  a  something  that  prevents  desire  for  food.  My 
rest  upon  your  couch  has  proved  a  source  of  great  relief 
to  me,  but  until  I  hear  some  word  from  my  poor  child  I 
cannot  eat." 

"Then,  go  and  do  my  bidding  quietly,  nor  listen  to  nor 
heed  any  blabbing  tongue.  Conceal  yourself  in  some  se- 
questered nook  about  the  palace  grounds  and  wait  until 
the  king  starts  forth  for  Palpan  heights,  then  follow  him, 
and  learn  what  mock  devotion  calls  him  there." 

"Hueman,  ye  gods !  I  cannot,  dare  not  speak  what 
flashes  through  my  brain  at  this  command.  What  has 
your  art  revealed?  Is  she,  oh,  is  she  there?  Fury  is 
making  of  me  a  demon !  Come  what  may  if  this  be  true !" 

"Now,  have  a  care.  Look  straight  into  mine  eyes.  I 
gave  you  not  one  proof  of  such  a  thought  other  than 
curiosity — now  go  and  do  my  bidding  quietly  and  then 
report  what  you  have  learned  before  you  do  aught  else." 

"I  shall  obey  you,  good  Hueman;  I  shall  obey  you/* 

"How  sweet  and  welcome  is  this  silence  to  me  now  that 
he  has  gone.  I  will  strive  to  keep  my  thoughts  away 
from  things  I  dread.  Ah,  mark  the  angry  heavens  how 
they  frown  on  Tollantzingo ;  fair  luna  has  no  power  to 
pierce  the  murky  veil;  anon  the  growling  thunder 
waves  the  air  and  rocks  the  very  earth  with  threatening 


Q2  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

tones,  forked  lightning  rends  the  very  dome  of  heaven 
with  vicious,  darting  tongues  of  flame  and  plunges  deep 
into  the  yielding  earth  as  if  seeking  in  its  depths  some 
hidden  foe. 

Stately  trees  reach  forth  their  leaf-torn  arms  in  mute 
appeal,  swaying  in  shivering  dread  of  each  relentless  blast 
that  bends  and  rends  their  creaking  boughs,  hurling  them 
in  demoniac  glee  to  beaten  earth.  Ha,  note  that  fearful 
hush — gods  of  the  storm  in  prayer — and  now  they  bel- 
low forth  a  wild  amen !  They  break  the  flood-gates  of  the 
driving  storm  and  lash  their  furies  on,  screaming  their 
voices  hoarse  in  loud  reverberation;  rain  falls  in  tor- 
rents, methinks  the  very  sea  lent  her  aid  to  deluge  this 
fair  vale. 

Citadels  and  dwellings  of  sun-baked  clay  are  doomed, 
they  will  melt  and  yield  before  this  drenching  avalanche. 
Those  shaded  walks  are  rivers  now,  and  on  their  rushing 
waves  ride  branches  torn  from  many  a  forest  tree. 
Naught  can  withstand  this  flood  but  walls  of  stone. 

This  is  a  glorious  night  for  me.  I  love  the  fearful 
"blending  of  grand  nature's  forces  that  proves  what  they 
can  do;  my  rock- walled  nook  affords  me  grim  security 
where  I  can  mark  the  lurid  flames  shoot  back  the  curtain 
of  the  gale,  revealing  in  brief  magnificence  the  sweeping 
waste  of  waters.  Atechpanomochocho  lashes  her  swelling 
breast  repellantly,  smiting  the  receding  shores  with  fear- 
ful energy,  while  huge  waves  grumble  as  they  rear  their 
towering,  frosted  heads  and  pelt  them  on  the  beach. 

High  up  on  yonder  mountain  side  and  safe,  stands  Pal- 
pan  heights,  grim  wall  of  stone,  sheltered  in  security  from 
all  of  this  warring  of  the  winds.  Ah,  methinks,  this  does 
mark  the  fulfillment  of  the  first  prophesy — it  is  the  signal 
of  destruction ! 

And  now  the  storm  has  lulled  her  voice    to    sobbing 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  93 

tones;  the  winds  abate  and  whisper  of  the  havoc  they 
have  wrought,  and  caper  about  the  ruins  in  mirthful  ec- 
stacy,  gently  lifting  glistening  leaves  from  shattered 
boughs  in  mock  comparison.  Boreas  sleeps  and  even  I, 
so  humbled  by  his  mighty  power,  am  soothed  and  courted 
by  his  magic  spell,  and  will  seek  my  couch  to  slumber 
until  the  breaking  of  another  dawn. 

Ah,  how  the  morning  light  reveals  the  dreadful  havoc 
of  the  first  fulfillment  of  the  warning !  And  has  that  alien 
monarch  yet  within  his  sordid  soul  words  wherewith  he 
dare  attempt  to  scourge  me,  and  will  he  sneer  at  what  his 
horoscope  revealed  to  me?  Into  a  deep  yawning  chasm 
of  iniquity  his  gloating  eyes  are  staring,  but  he  is  too  shal- 
low minded  to  comprehend  it,  he  is  like  one  who  is  charm- 
ed by  the  wiles  of  a  venomous  serpent,  nor  realizes  the 
danger  of  its  deadly  fangs.  And  all  of  his  fancied 
strength  in  fortressed  halls  and  muscled  braves  will  melt 
before  his  cringing  gaze  like  rising  fog  in  sunlight's 
searching  lustre. 

This  morning  I  shall  seek  him  in  his  gilded  halls,  will 
go  unbidden,  for  I  must  learn  if  aught  is  known  of  sweet 
Xochitl.  I  know  it  will  be  difficult  to  pick  my  way,  for 
there  is  no  place  to  tread  except  in  guttered  halls. 

"Hueman,  now  you  have  come  to  acknowledge  that  I 
did  my  people  grevious  wrong  in  listening  to  your  plea 
so  oft  repeated,  and  offered  up  no  sacrifice.  This  day 
Tlaloc  shall  have  one  thousand  souls  meted  out  to  him 
with  which  to  appease  his  avenging  wrath  and  stay  the 
storm  which  again  threatens  us." 

"And  if  the  invading  hosts  unite,  as  has  of  late  been 
rumored,  and  Tollantzingo  then  be  walled  by  seas  of  hu- 
man foes,  just  send  your  angry  rain  god  Tlaloc  to  beat 
them  down,  to  conquer  and  transfix  them  with  his  fireless 


94  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

eyes,  his  pulseless  arms  and  senseless  stare,  and  prove  his 
valid  worth  and  boasted  might." 

"Hueman,  those  sneering  tones  become  not  one  so  wise, 
I  fain  would  know  what  malice  and  defiance  lurks  behind 
your  flimsy  veil  of  satire  ?" 

"If  flimsy,  penetrate  it  then  and  benefit  your  darkened 
soul  with  gleams  of  light." 

"Were  it  not  for  your  grey  hairs,  Hueman,  I'd  punish 
you  for  all  this  scorn.  But  you,  like  mad  Tlaloc,  need  of- 
ferings to  appease  your  ire,  and  your  alert  senses  shall 
at  once  be  fed.  Last  night  I  stayed  at  Palpan  heights 
the  long  hours  through,  watching  the  fury  of  the  dreadful 
storm  in  .fear  and  prayer." 

"Ah,  wily  king,  how  well  you  know  what  fuel  to  en- 
flame  me  with.  Think  you  the  shining  stars  of  heaven 
cannot  penetrate  those  rocky  walls  that  hide  your  shame- 
ful secret  from  all  human  eyes  ?  You  start  in  terror  and 
dismay.  I  touched  some  chord  that  shivered  your  shrink- 
ing soul." 

"Hueman,  you  are  indeed  sagacious  in  your  speech,  but 
arrows  flinted  with  your  scorn  fall  wide  the  mark  to-day ; 
had  I  obeyed  the  warning  voices  of  my  soul  and  of  my 
nobles,  who  bade  me  offer  up  a  vote  of  thanks  to  god 
Tlaloc,  and  plead  for  gentle  showers  of  which  Tollan  had 
need,  the  ruin  wrought  by  this  great  hurricane  would  thus 
have  been  averted.  I  was  convinced  of  this  until  I  listen- 
ed to  your  foolish  counsel,  and  now  behold  the  misery 
which  darkens  every  league  of  my  domain." 

"Tecpantcaltzin,  you  are  indeed  a  prey  to  every  passing 
whim  which  sways  your  purposeless  ambition,  but  cannot 
make  of  you  other  than  the  savage  beast  you  are,  thirst- 
ing for  human  gore !  Mercy  is  a  stranger  unto  you  who, 
like  a  mountain  lion  when  well-fed,  lies  low  watching  the 
gambol  of  a  graceful  fawn  unconscious  of  danger  un- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  95 

til  within  its  reach,  when  those  monstrous  paws  are 
raised  to  mar  its  beauty  and  destroy  its  life !" 

"Hueman,  speak  on,  your  parables  are  certainly  amus- 
ing, but  do  you  know  that  all  of  the  years  which  I  have 
reigned  were  prosperous  ones  until  this  baneful  spell  or 
smiting  arm  of  fate  was  poised  relentlessly  aloft  my  fair 
Tollan;  these  scenes  of  desolation  laugh  to  scorn  my 
prayerful,  pleading  voice.  Now,  my  counselors  shall  be 
obeyed — revolting  though  the  orders  be  to  me — I  have 
issued  them  to  avoid  a  mutiny;  which  dreaded  alternate 
would  surely  have  followed  had  I  not  given  the  forced 
command,  and  that  would  make  me  less  a  king." 

"You  are  indeed  fool  ridden,  and  by  your  meek  docil- 
ity and  foregone  submission  they  drive  or  lead  you  where 
they  will.  The  Supreme  Deity,  whom  I  obey  makes  me 
fear  to  abuse  a  living  thing.  You  know  full  well  what 
royal  blood  flows  in  my  veins  dating  from  the  earli- 
est Toltec  reign;  know,  too,  that  in  all  of  those  buried 
centuries  that  sacrificial  stone  was  never  stained  with 
human  blood  until  now.  Our  downfall  dates  from  the 
commencement  of  your  misguided  rule.  Say,  prodigal, 
what  stores  have  you  laid  by  for  times  like  these?  With 
all  of  your  boasted  prosperity,  show  me  just  one  of  all 
our  public  granaries  filled?  When  famine  strikes  its 
deadly  fangs  upon  us,  of  what  avail  will  be  a  pyramid  of 
dazzling  gems  or  gold  and  silver  hemmed  in  by  these  old 
walls  and  they  surrounded  by  united  hosts  of  envious 
foes  ?  You  have  been  reaping  all  of  these  years  of  which 
you  boast,  the  harvest  sown  by  my  proud  ancestors,  but 
scorned  to  profit  by  their  superior  wisdom  and  prepare 
for  future  needs.  Prodigals  dared  not  then  defile  the 
sanctuaries  with  debauchery  as  now,  and  brutalize  our  fol- 
lowers' souls  with  deeds  that  cannot  go  unpunished.  To  ap- 
pease some  latent  sense  of  fear  and  shame  that  perchance 


96  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

rifted  their  elastic  souls  for  some  brief  spell,  these  prodi- 
gals seek  your  willing  presence,  bowed  down  with  revela- 
tions, and  demand  for  some  inanimate  form  molded  of 
gold  a  sacrifice  of  human  lives,  and  you,  too,  steeped  in 
evil  deeds,  most  willingly  obey.  Pray  to  your  gods,  drench 
them  in  human  gore  with  all  of  your  barbaric  revelry  and 
I  will  pray  to  mine,  and  soon  you  shall  know  what  fear- 
ful curse  time  has  in  store  for  you — then  wandering 
tribes  with  instincts  half  untamed  will  revel  in  these 
princely  halls,  delighting  to  despoil  these  works  of  art 
which  prove  what  Toltec  genius  has  wrought;  these 
gleaming  plates  of  gold,  glittering  with  gems  of  priceless 
worth,  will  reveal  no  merit  to  their  barbarous  eyes  unless 
perchance  to  serve  as  shields  to  protect  their  brawny 
breasts  from  pelting  slings  and  poisoned  arrows. 

Undo  the  monstrous  sin  which  your  reckless  words 
have  complied  with — and  save  those  martyrs  doomed  by 
you,  for  fear  of  heaven's  ire — and  save  yourself  from 
being  shaped  and  molded  by  the  subtle  suggestion  of 
those  whose  instrument  you  so  willingly  seem  to  be. 

Heaven  has  a  charge  against  you,  king  shameful,  be- 
yond my  power  to  tell — you  cannot  hide  your  guilt  from 
me  to  whom  you  are  an  open  book  with  pages  smirched 
and  rumpled." 

"Sir,  I  fail  to  catch  the  purport  of  your  words  which 
are  shrouded  in  deep  mystery  to  me ;  I  have  no  fear  that 
nations  will  unite  to  charge  on  Tollantzingo,  but  I  do 
fear  the  power  that  Tlaloc  can  wield  and  I  shall  heed  his 
warning.  As  to  your  acrimonious  prophesies  and  boasted 
powers — go  with  them  to  the  stars  and  thus  relieve  your 
over  abundant  satire." 

"So  be  it,  king  only  in  name ;  the  powers  that  rule  this 
throne  are  sceptered  not,  but  with  their  cunning  wiles 
and  mock  humility  have  forever  cursed  our  once  proud 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  97 

nation  through  your  weak  and  willing  vascillation.  I 
go,  and  when  I  do  return  another  epoch  will  have  mark- 
ed the  stride  of  all  of  my  prophesies." 

The  king  sank  back  relieved  at  the  exit  of  the  fearless 
priest  and  prophet  who  murmured  inaudibly,  "I  go  to 
Papantzin,  poor  weary  soul,  and  I  trust  that  no  harm 
befell  him  since  we  met;  how  still  and  dark  seems  his 
abode.  I  shall  move  cautiously  lest  I  awaken  him  if  he 
be  sleeping,  for  there  is  no  surer  balm  for  wounded  hearts 
than  blessed  sleep — and  yet  methinks  I  hear  a  smothered 
groan  and  faltering,  stumbling  footsteps — Ho,  Papantzin 
it  is  I,  your  friend,  Hueman,  come,  let  me  in.  And  yet  he 
heeds  me  not.  The  gods  be  praised,  I  can  undo  the  fast- 
enings of  the  door.  What,  not  asleep?  ah  well,  I  am  glad 
that  I  came  for  I  see  now  that  you  are  ill.  Speak  Pa- 
pantzin, unloose  your  tongue,  this  silence  grieves  me 
mightily.  May  heaven  forefend!  You  cannot  speak,  can 
only  whimper  like  some  new  born  babe,  what  evil  curse 
has  befallen  you?  Ah  now  I  see  your  eyes  more  clearly, 
this  darkness  which  has  kept  so  sullenly  within,  puzzles 
me  completely. 

Why  do  you  grope  the  air  with  clutching  fingers  ?  Ah, 
your  feet  too  are  useless  and  refused  to  obey  my  call  be- 
muse your  feeble  mind  has  lost  its  instinct  to  guide  them, 
yes  you  are  tethered  by  unseen  things,  your  brain  is  para- 
lysed and  your  soul  is  wrapped  in  lethargy;  oh,  Papan- 
tzin, your  features  do  not  relax  to  show  one  sign  to  prove 
that  my  voice  can  penetrate  the  fearful  depths  of  your 
unconsciousness." 

Ye  gods!  this  is  a  fearful  fate  for  warrior  brave  like 
him!  How  well  with  pride,  for  honors  sake,  like  heroes 
love  to  die,  would  he  have  given  up  his  life;  his  hands  have 
never  wrought  this  dreadful  change,  nor  grief — but  oh, 
this  added  crime  reveals  to  me  the  degraded  machina- 


98  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

tions  of  Tecpantcaltzin,  whose  doomed  soul  when  free 
must  be  born  again  and  again  and  inhabit  the  lower  ani- 
mal kingdom,  lower  and  still  lower,  until  he  becomes  that 
from  which  his  ancestors  surely  sprang,  a  serpent !  And 
what  a  punishment  for  any  spirit  that  has  crossed  this 
vale  of  tears  and  tasted  joys  beyond  to  be  banished  hither 
for  evil  deeds  and  forced  upon  a  pilgrimage  again 
to  bear  the  curse  of  human  ills,  perchance  warped  into 
some  frame  which  the  soul  can  never  fit;  and  those 
who  are  fit  for  heaven  shall  be  free  from  every  evil 
thought  like  winsome  babes  who  die  in  infancy  their 
mission  having  been  to  crown  the  final  act  for  some  sweet 
spirit  grown  fair  enough  and  pure  enough  to  be  welcomed 
into  heaven  by  Him  who  rules  the  universe. 

"Oh,  selfishness,  that  cruel  blade  that  severs  earth 
from  heaven,  has  been  poised  and  with  a  deadly  stroke 
has  fallen  upon  you  and  yours,  dear  Papantzin,  but  he 
who  wields  that  malignant  power  now,  will  yet  be  forced 
to  crawl  upon  this  earth  shunned,  despised,  hated  and 
feared  by  man  as  only  venomous  reptiles  are,  nor  will 
the  gentle  forbearance  and  leniancy  of  kind  heaven  forbid 
the  just  decree." 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  99 


CHAPTER  VII. 

*'  ANOTHER  storm  approaches  and  the  moat  has  over- 
flown and  sweeps  around  the  threatened  walls  like  some 
mad  river,  and  there  at  the  base  of  my  cavern  home  a 
messenger  is  waiting.  I  can  scarcely  hear  his  voice 
above  the  echo  of  the  storm;  ah  yes,  he  is  saying — 4<  Oh 
wise  and  good  priest  Hueman,  the  king  is  in  sore  need  of 
you  just  now,  his  palace  and  each  temple  and  all  of  our 
dwellings  are  wall  deep  in  mud  and  mire  and  on  each  foot 
of  earth  above  the  pools  a  million  reptiles  leap  and  toss 
in  revelry.  On  every  roof  they  squirm  about  with  naught 
but  speedy  death  before  them  and  will  make  our  city  foul 
with  fetid  odors;  do  come  and  bring  your  wondrous 
power  to  bear  against  this  great  affliction;  the  king  re- 
quests this  special  favor." 

"Say  to  your  king,  for  me,  that  I  have  measured  every 
pace  between  here  and  there  thousands  of  times  and 
know  that  it  is  no  further  distance  here  from  there;  I 
can  well  exist  without  his  company  but  if  he  does  crave 
mine,  say  then  for  me  that  it  is  no  greater  feat  to  scale 
this  cliff  than  mounting  Palpan  heights !" 

"Oh  it  were  more  than  my  poor  head  be  worth  to  carry 
such  a  message  to  the  king;  may  I  not  clothe  your  an- 
swer in  some  smoother  words,  say  you  are  ill  and  cannot 
brave  the  storm  ?" 

"Say  what  you  will,  it  matters  naught  to  me.  Are  you 
not  one  who  was  of  Papantzin's  command?" 


IOO  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"Yes,  alas,  bur  noble  chieftain  Papantzin !  I  was  of  his 
command  and  do  you  know  the  dreadful  fact  that  he  has 
perished  in  the  ruins  of  his  desolate  home?" 

"I  know  all  about  him,  who  is  your  leader  now  ?" 

"The  remnant  of  our  band  has  joined  the  imperial 
guards — of  course  you  know  that  one  thousand  of  them 
were  sent  to  feed  the  sacrifice" 

"Prodigious  fool!  One  thousand  of  his  bravest  men, 
one  thousand  of  his  wisest  men  and  every  soul  a  Tolled 
Ye  gods,  ye  gods !  how  dare  he  summon  me  to  appear  be- 
fore him  after  such  a  crime !  What  of  your  leader  now  ? 
Can  he  compare  with  the  lamented  Papantzin  ?" 

"Oh  Prophet,  never.  For  Papantzin  we  wandered 
through  the  wild  lagoon  where  feet  of  man  had  never 
trod,  and  in  the  face  of  danger  braved  the  foeman's  skill 
until  we  wrenched  their  weapons  from  their  brawny 
hands  and  when  too  sorely  pressed,  we  leaped  between 
the  battle  ax  and  his  loved  form  to  die  for  him!  But  I 
must  go  Hueman  or  the  king  will  reprove  my  tardy  haste, 
and  must  I  go  alone?" 

"Yes,  and  bear  my  message  to  him  clothed  in  whatever 
manner  you  choose,  but  the  purport  must  be  the 
same." 

Let  him  now  call  upon  the  power  of  his  counselors  who 
are  ever  ready  to  revel  with  him  and  mock  the  solemn 
truths  which  emanate  from  laws  beyond  their  compre- 
hension whereby  all  miracles  of  heaven  and  earth  are 
wrought. 

Mysterious  force  that  holds  the  heavens  in  space 
inspiring  the  faithful  few  who  are  marshaled  in  His  grace 
— and  the  glorious  power  from  which  I  draw  thoughts 
deep,  earnest  and  reverential,  protect  my  time-bowed 
frame  and  make  me  feel  secure  against  the  evil  threats  of 
(dastard  Tecpantcaltzin,  although  they  do  irritate  me  in 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  IOI 

their  caustic  words  and  tones  flashed  forth  with  sneering- 
gestures  poisoning  the  very  air  he  breathes,  humiliating 
him  far  more  than  me." 

Again  a  messenger  appears — "Halt  where  you  are  and 
tell  me  if  aught  has  been  heard  at  court  of  General  To- 
piltzin  ?" 

"This  very  morn  a  runner  came  who  did  announce  that 
General  Topiltzin  was  making  war  at  Nextalpan  far  north 
of  our  domain  and  would  return  with  many  prisoners. 
Good  priest  Hueman,  the  king  was  sorely  grieved  and 
disappointed  when  I  came  alone  and  he  commanded  me 
to  tell  you  that  he  is  very  much  alarmed  and  fears  your 
warnings  which  he  scorned  to  heed  until  now,  and  swears 
by  all  of  the  gods  of  heaven  and  earth  and  sea  to  bring 
this  day  into  the  realm  a  queen  more  beautiful  than  Quet- 
zalcoahtl  ever  shone  upon.  In  this  he  would  consult  you, 
wise  Hueman/' 

"A  queen !  There  is  but  one — just  one  fair  maid  in  all 
Tollan  that  he  dare  wed  and  keep  the  throne." 

"Hueman,  I  can  no  longer  wait,  my  heart  stands  still ! 
my  brain  is  on  fire!  I  go  to  feast  my  aching  eyes  upon 
my  precious  child — nay  do  not  seek  to  hold  me — what  is 
my  life,  or  earth,  without  my  child." 

"Stay  Papantzin,  refuse  to  do  my  bidding  and  I  will 
be  no  more  your  friend." 

"Oh  say  not  thus  I  implore  you,  Hueman,  without  you 
I  am  lost!  My  reason  will  again  flee — unfold  some  plan 
to  me  and  I  promise  to  obey  you  faithfully  but  oh,  my 
heart  and  brain  are  inflamed  to  bursting" — 

"Oh  my  chieftain !  Dear  Papantzin !  Oh,  is  this  but  an 
apparition  ?" 

"No,  no,  Pochotl,  I  was  saved  by  the  skill  of  good  Hue- 
man. Come  hither,  have  no  fear  to  mount  this  cliff,  you 
never  yet  refused  to  do  my  bidding." 


IO2  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"I  come  with  joy  to  gladly  share  my  fate  with  yours." 

"Welcome  Pochotl,  I  can  trust  my  life  with  you  and  all 
that  life  holds  dear — but  ho,  Hueman,  I  pray  you  do  un- 
fold some  speedy  plan  of  action." 

"For  her  sweet  sake,  our  dear  Xochitl,  I  will  undo  my 
vow  and  will  go  once  again  into  the  hateful  presence  of 
the  king,  and  if  he  will  in  part  redress  this  cruel  wrong, 
will  you  then  strive  to  forgive  him  Papantzin,  if  he  will 
make  your  daughter  queen?" 

"Hueman  I  cannot,  dare  not  answer  now,  tell  him  that 
I  still  live,  thanks  to  your  gifted  power,  and  say  that  if 
he — if  he  will  give  me  back  my  child — oh  ye  gods,  Hue- 
man, I  cannot  curb  mine  angered  soul" 

"Have  patience  Papantzin,  for  just  a  short  time  more. 
Unless  he  gives  you  back  your  child  I  swear  to  you  that 
his  power  shall  be  divided!  Now  listen,  Pochotl,  when 
from  the  king  I  turn,  if  in  marked  derision,  you  haste  and 
summon  every  brave  from  the  imperial  guards,  who  were 
of  Papantzin's  command,  and  tarry  at  the  palace  gates 
ready  to  do  my  bidding." 

"I  will  Hueman,  no  second  call  will  those  ready  heroes 
require." 

"Oh  my  friend  do  promise  me  that  my  daughter  shall 
be  free  and  saved  from  all  contention." 

"She  shall  be  saved  or  be  a  kingdom  lost!" 

"The  gods  be  praised,  your  forceful  words  do  give  me 
hope — unless  he  does  return  my  child  /'//  take  his  life!" 

"I  would  he  had  a  dozen  lives  that  each  might  feel  the 
sting  of  death  more  cruelly;  come,  let  us  then  begone, 
Pochotl,  lest  some  delay  may  change  our  cherished  plans." 

As  they  carefully  picked  their  way  through  the  mud 
snd  mire  and  entered  the  presence  of  the  king  he  ex- 
claimed : 

"Hueman,  the  gods  be  praised  that  you  have  come  at 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

last.  The  mad  Tlaloc  has  taught  me  to  believe  your  warn- 
ings and  I  would,  if  in  my  power,  atone  for  my  past  deeds 
and  I  will  gladly  follow  your  worthy  plans  if  you 
will  aid  me  in  divining  the  surest,  speediest  way  to  ex- 
tricate myself  and  subjects  from  this  smiting  curse!" 

"And  have  you,  vascillating  king,  counseled  with  your 
mocking  courtiers  and  gained  their  royal  pleasure  and 
permission  for  this,  your  grand  debut  in  power?" 

"Hueman,  of  them  you  know  I  have  no  need  to  ques- 
tion when  once  I  have  determined  to  assert  my  power; 
you  are  too  shrewd  to  think  I  trifle  now  when  danger 
lurks  in  every  lowering  cloud — reveal  to  me  some  sure 
and  speedy  means  to  appease  the  angry  gods." 

"Oh,  trifling  Tecpantcaltzin,  your  domain  was  beauti- 
ful, aye  every  league,  until  your  beastly  nature,  born  and 
bred  within  a  foul,lust-marrowed  frame,  conceived  the 
dastardly  wish  to  hide  the  fairest,  purest,  sweetest  maid 
within  your  realm  from  her  loved  parents'  sheltering 
arms,  and  forced  her  into  a  prison  cell  to  be  your  prey! 
Her  little  hands  did  beat  in  vain  against  those  rock-bound 
walls  and  her  thrush-toned  voice  pealed  forth  until  hushed 
to  hoarseness,  and  her  dark,  pleading  eyes  and  prayerful 
words  did  never  move  your  cruel  heart  to  grant  her  lib- 
erty, for  within  its  hardened  depths  no  mercy  every  grew. 
Think  you  that  the  Supreme  Deity,  who  mothers  all  our 
woes,  will  suffer  you  to  prosper  in  such  fiendish  crimes 
as  these  ? 

"Oh,  king,  I  blush  to  tell  you  what  I  saw — a  chieftain 
of  a  conquering  band  who  had  led  a  living  wall  of  human 
forms  to  save  your  kingdom — he  climbed  the  parapet  and 
waved  our  flag  on  high  to  urge  his  willing  braves  trium- 
phantly outlined  against  the  sunset  sky  a  target  for  the 
arrows  of  ten  thousand  Eagle  braves.  I  saw  him  kneel 
beside  the  dying  form  of  her  he  loved,  mute  in  a  deep 


IO4  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

consuming  grief  that  burned  up  his  tears,  then  plead  for 
her  sweet  life  in  tones  that  seared  my  very  soul;  it  was 
within  my  power  to  grant  that  prayer  and  when  I  hurried 
forth  in  eager  haste,  fleeing  before  me  was  a  spy !  One 
whom  your  treachery  commanded  there,  and  then  you 
called  that  chieftain  with  some  veiled  excuse  and  sent  a 
murderer  there  to  finish  that  foul  deed  your  brain  began. 
Aye  shrink  and  tremble !  wanton  king,  I  have  not  done ! 
When  the  last  rays  of  setting  sun  had  kissed  the  burial 
place  where  his  loved  mate  was  laid  and  his  lone  heart 
called  loudly  for  his  child,  I  bade  him  follow  at  your  heels 
and  learn  by  whom  and  where  his  child  was  hidden ;  sur- 
mising this,  you  ordered  there  a  guard  with  villianous  arts 
and  wiles — become  your  tools — to  proffer  him  a  soothing 
draught  wherein  was  poured  the  deadly  Toloache  !" 

"Oh  cease,  Hueman,  in  pity  stay  your  scorn!  Those 
searching,  blazing  eyes  of  thine  eat  cruelly  into  my  shiv- 
ering flesh.  I  will  atone,  will  make  his  child  my  honored 
queen,  I  swear  it,  this  day  Xochitl  shall  become  my 
queen. " 

"Your  words  and  oaths  have  little  weight  with  me ;  ac- 
tions alone  convince  me  wherein  truthfulness  abides  with 
you  and  hearken,  cursed  crowned  king,  by  virtue  of  my 
art  I  saved  that  noble  chieftain's  life !  He  stands  today  a 
monument  of  my  power  with  bosom  heaving  for  revenge, 
demanding  his  beloved  child  and  Justice,  as  becomes  his 
valiant  deeds." 

"It  shall  be  given,  nothing  can  swerve  me  from  my 
purpose  but  the  grip  of  death !  Hueman,  you  are  in  very 
truth  a  god!  while  life  remains  in  my  conflicting  breast 
I  shall  revere  you  for  saving  Papantzin.  Go  bring  him 
hither." 

"No,  in  justice  summon  here  the  remnant  of  his  band 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

and  bid  them  bring  their  chieftain  from  my  cavern 
home."  *  *  * 

"It  is  done,  they  have  departed  upon  that  mission  to 
bring  the  parent  of  my  future  queen,  and  oh,  Hueman, 
how  gladly  will  I  strive  each  day  and  hour  to  win  her 
love;  no  whispered  wish  if  half  unsaid  but  that  I  will  di- 
vine and  grant  if  in  my  power;  no  unkind  look  or  word 
shall  mar  her  thoughts  and  she  shall  grow  as  heavenly 
sweet,  as  fair  as  lillies  grow.  I  call  upon  all  of  the  un- 
seen powers  that  rule  the  universe  to  seal  my  lids  and 
glue  my  tongue  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth,  rather  than  that 
I  see  a  single  frown  upon  the  beauty  of  her  angelic  face.'* 

"Remember  king,  my  memory  has  never  yet  failed  me 
a  fraction  from  ill  use  and  woe  be  unto  you  when  comes 
the  hour  that  you  forget !  Ah  he  comes,  I  hear  the  tread 
of  martial  feet." 

"Aye,  he  comes  to  greater  victory  now  than  any  host 
who  ever  braved  an  arrow,  for  he  has  earned  the  right  to 
bow  the  head  of  this  proud  kingdom  to  the  very  dust! 
Come  hither,  Papantzin,  I  wronged  you  and  I  am  scourg- 
ed and  seared  with  keen  remorse — see  Papantzin  I  kneel ! 
Your  king  is  pleading  at  your  feet !  forgive" 

"Oh,  king,  what  had  I  done — I  did  not  deserve  all  of 
these  wrongs  which  you  have  heaped  upon  me;  that  kin- 
dled every  drop  of  blood  to  flame  within  me  making  my 
heart  and  brain  a  seething  caldron." 

"Forgive  thine  unjust,  but  repentant  king?  Today  your 
child  shall  be  restored  to  you  and  be  proclaimed  my 
queen." 

"Then  promise,  too,  that  no  other  Toltec  form  or  foe 
be  sent  by  your  command  to  that  grim  altar-stone." 

"I  promise,  and  I  swear  to  keep  my  vow." 

"Then  I  forgive  you — arise  and  lead  me  to  my  child." 


IO6  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

Trembling  and  exhausted  the  excited  general  turned 
his  anxious  face  toward  the  prophet,  as  he  exclaimed : 

"Come  here,  Hueman,  do  take  my  arm.  My  boasted 
strength  is  gone,  my  feet  do  stumble  in  their  eagerness  to 
reach  that  goal  which  hides  my  precious  one;  I  scarce 
can  see,  Hueman,  and  is  this  rain  that  trickles  down  my 
cheek  ?  It  can't  be  tears,  I  could  not  weep  when  my  loved 
wife  died!  I  do  feel  weak  with  feverish  joy  and  Palpan 
heights  seems  very  far  today." 

The  king  and  his  retinue  advanced  and  led  the  way  in 
order  to  apprise  the  fair  prisoner  that  her  deliverance  was 
at  hand,  and  she  rushed  with  a  shriek  of  joy  into  the  out- 
stretched arms  of  Papantzin  who  exclaimed:  "My  child! 
my  darling  one,  once  more  I  clasp  you  in  my  arms  and 
hear  your  loving  voice — and  oh,  how  can  I  tell  you  all — 
a  grief  which  you  must  share" 

"Dear  father  I  know  what  you  would  say — I  know  that 
my  dear  mother  has  gone  to  our  sun-land  home,  for  she 
came  to  me,  father,  so  divinely  fair  and  I  begged  of  her  to 
bear  my  spirit  home  with  her  beyond  the  stars." 

She  murmured  these  words  half  inaudibly,  the  king 
seemed  terribly  excited  and  nervously  watched  the  prin- 
cess, who  appeared  utterly  unconscious  of  his  very  exist- 
ance  until  he  said : 

"Princess  Xochitl,  I  have  a  precious  boon  to  ask  of  you 
here  in  the  presence  of  your  father  and  good  priest  Hue- 
man, I  crave  the  rapture  of  your  sweet  being  near  me  al- 
ways ;  an  influence  which  will  make  me  more  a  king — oh, 
do  not  turn  thus  from  me,  drive  away  that  look  of  horror, 
loathing  and  dismay!  Oh  am  I  then  so  utterly  repulsive 
in  your  sight,  I  would  I  could  undo  the  past  or  blot  it 
from  your  memory.  Believe  me,  I  will  try  with  all  the 
tenderness  in  my  power  to  win  and  keep  your  love.  Dear 
heart  I  offer  you  a  throne  and  all  I  have  to  give,  do 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  lO/ 

speak  to  me?  Oh  thou  beautiful  one,  speak  to  me,  con- 
sent to  be  my  Queen  ?" 

"King  Tecpantcaltzin,  my  lips  cannot  turn  traitor  to 
my  heart — Father,  you  know  the  precious  secret  hidden 
in  my  bosom,  your  wish  alone  shall  be  obeyed." 

"My  child,  in  very  truth  I  feel  that  it  were  better  so,  it 
is  the  only  way  to  save  your  good  name  now  and  save  the 
Tollan  kingdom  from  the  horror  and  disgrace  of  a  civil 
war — I  crave  for  thee  no  royal  diadem,  no  power  beyond 
the  strength  of  happy  love — but  this  conspiring  force 
which  has  hemmed  you  in  seems  to  leave  but  this  one 
avenue  for  your  escape." 

"Then  you  are  answered  king,  and  if  in  all  the  years 
to  come  you  feel  the  want  of  love  such  as  my  heart  can 
give — remember,  not  of  my  own  free  will  did  I  become 

your  Queen" her  voice  sank  to  a  sobbing  wail  which 

tortured  the  soul  of  Papantzin  and  the  Prophet  and  seem- 
ed to  arouse  some  latent  pity  in  the  bosom  of  the  agitated 
king  who  exclaimed : 

"Xochitl  mine,  like  some  lone  plant  in  rock-walled, 
darkened  glen  that  strives  to  seek  the  light  will  I  each 
day  and  hour  labor  to  win  the  priceless  treasure  of  your 
love." 

He  closely  scanned  the  beautiful  face  of  the  princess 
whose  passive  features  were  expressive  of  other  thoughts 
than  those  proffered  by  him ;  he  then  gave  the  order  to  re- 
turn to  the  city,  himself  leading  the  way,  thereby  permit- 
ting the  future  queen  the  welcome  privilege  of  conversing1 
unreservedly  with  her  parent  and  staunch  friend  Hue- 
man. 

"To  you,  dear  Father,  and  my  cherished  friend,  Hue- 
man,  I  can  now  pour  forth  the  wishes  of  my  heart  in 
which  sacred  grave  of  all  my  cherished  hope  the  sunshine 
of  my  happiness  will  set  today,  forever !  this  cruel,  stern 


IO8  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

decree  I  know  is  best  for  our  loved  country's  weal,  but 
rather  would  I  don  my  belt  with  gleaming  blade  and  seize 
my  oft-raised  bow  and  follow  he  whom  I  love  through  all 
of  the  forest  wilds  and  treacherous,  deep  ravines  fined 
with  defiant  foes  than  reign  one  hour  as  queen." 

"My  child  each  word  of  thine  cuts  deep  into  my  writh- 
ing soul;  I  thrink  and  tremble  at  this  sacrifice!  I  know, 
dear  girl,  that  your  heart  was  given  to  Topiltzin  and 
know,  too,  that  he  loves  you  better  than  his  life !  But  child 
remember  that  he  is  born  of  kings  and  has  a  noble  lofty 
soul  and  if  the  time  should  ever  come  when  low,  sneering, 
venomous  lips" 

"Don't  Father,  do  not  say  another  word  of  this — I  shall 
not  falter  by  the  way — but  you,  Hueman,  please  do  me 
this  one  great  favor :  when  Topiltzin  returns  say  to  him  in 
my  name  that  to  save  this  stricken  realm  from  severing 
ruin  I  gave  my  life.  My  love  he  knows  is  his  since  we 
were  babes,  tell  him  that  the  memory  of  that  precious 
truth  shall  be  my  beacon  light  to  illumine  my  dark  and 
narrow  way  and  give  me  patience  to  perform  my  task  un- 
til my  fettered  spirit  breaks  its  galling  chains  and  flies  to 
him,  tell  him  to  accept  this  dreadful  fate  as  I  have  done" 

her  voice  sank  to  a  whisper  and  tears  rained  down 

her  pale  cheeks,  preventing  her  from  finishing  the  sen- 
tence and  the  kind-hearted  prophet  divined  her  wish  and 
exclaimed : 

"Yes,  dear  Xochitl,  I  will  plead  with  him  in  all  of  the 
eloquence  of  which  I  am  capable  and  will  bring  the  power 
of  my  art  to  bear  upon,  and  if  possible  suppress  the  mad 
fires  of  revenge  which  will  breed  a  host  within  his  soul; 
and  child,  I  could  not,  would  not  find  it  in  my  soul  to  ac- 
quiesce in  this  coming  event  which  is  so  distasteful  to 
you,  were  it  not  that  the  murmurs  of  dissension  which 
are  rife  in  the  kingdom  are  becoming  more  pronounced 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  109 

each  day  and  I  fear  a  rebellion  will  follow  this  terrible 
crime,  unless  your  father  and  I  side  with  the  king.  We 
cannot  afford  a  civil  war  to  be  engendered  while  we  may 
peacefully  avert  it — we  could  summon  a  mighty  army 
and.  we  could  overthrow  the  power  of  Tecpantcaltzin  at 
the  sacrifice  of  many,  many  lives  and  above  all  else  would 
destroy  the  sweet  emblem  of  peace  so  dear  to  the  soul  of 
every  true  Toltec,  but  it  would  make  this  crime  none  the 
less  terrible,  and  perhaps  those  most  dear  to  you  might 
be  slain  in  the  conflict;  it  is  your  destiny  child,  be  brave 
and  save  your  country  from  'severing  ruin'  even  as  you 
have  so  aptly  said,  and  leave  your  future  in  the  hands  of 
the  Supreme  Deity  who  wills  and  rules  our  destinies." 

Under  the  trying  circumstances  and  fearful  of  a  mutiny 
the  king  determined  to  have  the  marriage  ceremony  per- 
formed without  delay  and,  as  they  neared  the  palace,  four 
women  with  lighted  candles  in  their  hands  advanced  to 
meet  the  faltering  bride,  and  led  her  to  the  king  who 
stood  at  the  entrance  to  the  palace  gateway;  he  held  a 
golden  censer  in  his  hands  which  he  swung  in  rhythmic 
motion  until  a  wreath  of  thin  blue  smoke  enveloped  the 
princess  with  clinging,  perfumed  vapor,  then  he  tenderly 
proffered  the  same  to  her  cold,  nervous  fingers  that  she 
should  likewise  drape  his  towering  form  with  the  same 
fleecy  cloud,  but  scarcely  had  her  hands  closed  upon  the 
sacred  chain  than  as  if  by  angry  spirits  seized  it  fell  omin- 
ously clanging  and  broken  at  the  very  feet  of  the  dismay- 
ed king  who  started  back  in  horror  at  the  evil  omen 
which  had  a  deep  significance  to  him  and  which  caused  a 
groan  of  anguish  to  escape  the  gathering  throng. 

With  a  supreme  effort  he  forced  a  smile  upon  his  coun- 
tenance and  advanced  and  clasped  the  bride's  hands  with- 
in his  own,  then  led  her  within  the  palace  to  a  rostrum  up- 
on which  stood  a  brasero  of  leaping  flames;  seven  times 


IIO  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

she  walked  around  the  blazing  urn  alone  while  a  far  off, 
yearning,  haunted  gaze  filled  her  dark,  lustrous  eyes  and 
her  tightly  clasped,  shapely  fingers  seemed  tipped  with 
drops  of  blood.  She  turned  and  mounted  the  rostrum 
with  the  king  and  then  the  high-priest  advanced  and 
gathered  the  point  of  her  richly  embroidered  huepilli 
and  tied  it  in  a  graceful  bow  with  the  exquisite  tilmatli 
which  enrobed  the  king. 

The  banquet  was  then  served,  but  over  all  there  hover- 
ed an  air  of  heaviness  which  hung  like  a  pall,  and  the 
voice  of  the  priest  sounded  like  a  dirge  as  he  raised  a  gob- 
let of  wine  to  his  lips  exclaiming :  "Hail  to  our  Queen !" 
Then  the  willing  voices  of  the  multitude  partook  of  the 
congratulations,  cheering  and  cheering  until  the  shivering 
queen  reached  forth  both  of  her  rounded  arms  beseech- 
ingly and  beckoned  them  to  be  still. 

Magnificent  presents  of  gold,  silver  and  precious  gems 
were  bestowed  upon  the  queen  and  a  handsomely  wrought 
urn  of  silver  was  filled  with  burning  copalli  as  an  offering 
to  the  gods. 

Xochitl  seemed  enveloped  in  some  mysterious  solitude 
which  appeared  to  lift  and  bear  her  soul  away  from  all 
of  that  festive  scene ;  at  last  she  raised  her  beseeching 
eyes  to  mine,  fraught  with  a  strange  unearthly  gaze  that 
seared  my  very  soul  and  will  haunt  me  to  my  death. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  Ill 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Many  moons  have  fulled  and  waned  since  that  never 
to  be  forgotten  day  when  my  brave  Topiltzin  consented 
to  meet  an  imaginary  foe ;  when  I  sounded  the  shrieking 
Teohuehuetl  to  save  one  thousand  of  his  men  from  the 
ignominious  order  of  the  king,  and  signified  his  willing- 
ness to  obey  my  pleading  and  endeavor  to  rescue  our 
missionaries  from  the  far  north,  and  I  am  longing  for  his 
presence  once  again,  and  yet  with  strange  misgivings 
which  I  cannot  smother. 

The  gentle  queen  has  long  since  won  the  hearts  of  our 
people  and  strives  in  every  way  to  relieve  the  destitution 
and  misery  in  our  land  for  a  burning,  scorching  heat  has 
seared  all  of  our  vegetation  and  seemed  to  penetrate  and 
bake  the  very  earth ;  our  fields  are  parched  and  shriveled, 
and  our  fruit  trees  are  barren  for  the  want  of  rain. 

Close  upon  the  wake  of  the  heated  term— which  lasted 
several  moons — a  cold  wave  came  and  spread  a  blighting 
frost  upon  all  Tollan ;  these  fearful  misfortunes  have  ap- 
paled  our  race  and  we  all  dread  one  more  warning  which 
still  remains,  the  last  to  sound  the  final  note  of  doom  to 
tottering  Tollantzingo. 

A  future  king  is  born,  and  the  fair  young  mother  has 
named  him  Meconetzin,  Son  of  Maguey. 

The  continued  absence  and  long  silence  of  my  kin  dis- 
turbs and  grieves  me,  for  I  know  that  a  crisis  is  ap- 
proaching which  forbodes  the  very  air  I  breathe,  and  I 


112  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

feel  it  in  the  weight  that  holds  me  down,  but  I  must  try 
and  drag  my  tired  form  to  the  palace,  for  the  king's  mes- 
senger has  just  appeared  with  a  summons,  and  I  must, 
although  reluctantly,  obey.  When  I  reached  the  palace 
I  knew  that  something  very  grave  and  unusual  had  oc- 
cured,  and  the  king  exclaimed  in  excited  tones : 

"Hueman,  this  day  I  have  indeed  sore  need  of  your 
divining  powers — some  hours  ago  a  wroman  came  to  me 
bringing  a  beautiful  Albino  child  which  she  found  very 
ill  upon  the  brow  of  yonder  hill,  and  as  I  stood  at  the 
palace  gate,  listening  to  her  tale  a  huge  dark  bird  swoop- 
ed down  and  seized  the  infant  from  her  grasp  and  flew 
with  it  toward  yonder  mountain  of  Iztaccihuatl." 

"Oh,  king;  this  is  the  third  and  last  of  those  warning 
signs — a  plague — the  worst  of  human  ills  will  surely 
follow.  Oh,  that  you  had,  when  our  country  teemed  with 
bounteous  harvest,  but  stored  a  goodly  portion  in  reserve 
for  barren  times  like  these." 

"Hueman,  long  months  ago  I  heard  that  Topiltzin  had 
conquered  many  tribes  and  seized  their  hoarded  stores 
which  amounted  to  considerable,  and  I  have  sent  out 
many  runners  to  apprise  him  of  our  distress,  and  begged 
of  him  to  bring  us  relief,  but  not  one  runner  has  re- 
turned." 

"I  think  that  it  were  better  to  send  a  band  of  men  of 
sufficient  numbers  to  withstand  an  attack." 

"Hueman,  I  did  forward  three  hundred  men  one  moon 
ago,  just  as  you  advised  me  to  do,  and  if  all  accounts  were 
true  they  were  near  enough  to  Tollan  that  we  could  have 
heard  from  them  by  this  time.  Our  supplies  are  getting 
dangerously  scant,  and  I  have  been  unable  to  purchase 
a  single  measure  of  grain.  I  shall  this  day  forward  still 
another  band  upon  the  same  trail,  hoping  to  have  them 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

overtake  the  others  and  aid  them  in  hurrying  here  with 
succor." 

"Oh,  I  have  prophesied,  feared  and  dreaded  times  like 
these,  and  listen !  Again  peals  forth  the  booming  of  the 
heavens,  another  furious  storm  is  approaching,  and  I 
must  call  upon  some  latent  power  to  aid  me  to  my  cavern 
home.  A  dreadful  weight  now  drags  me  down;  in  dreams 
that  racked  my  soul  long  years  ago  these  fearful  scenes 
appeared  to  me,  but  then  it  was  only  a  dream.'* 

"No,  do  not  go,  Hueman,  you  cannot  climb  the  cliff  in 
this  fierce  storm ;  tarry  here  until  it  has  wasted  its  force." 

"Impossible,  Tecpantcaltzin ;  I  shall  have  gained  the 
cliff  before  the  fury  of  the  storm  is  upon  us ;  my  faith  will 
give  me  strength,  and  unseen  hands  will  aid  me,  so  I  will 
hasten  on,  adieu."  *  *  * 

Another  week  of  storm,  and  again  it  has  abated,  and, 
oh,  the  dreadful  plague  rages  now  in  all  Tollan,  and 
every  remedy  proves  of  no  avail;  all  of  the  dried  herbs 
have  been  exhausted,  and  the  unusual  action  of  the  ele- 
ments has  destroyed  the  present  season's  crop  entirely, 
but  who  comes  here  at  this,  the  break  of  day?  "Topilt- 
zin !  Topiltzin !  The  gods  be  praised  that  you  have 
come  at  last;  and  have  you  come  alone?" 

"Yes,  I  have  come  alone,  for  a  short  distance  only,  to 
warn  you,  dear  Hueman,  to  remain  here  in  the  security 
of  this  cavern  until  I  rule  the  throne !" 

"Topiltzin,  have  you  turned  traitor  to  your  king?" 

"Yes!  a  thousand  times,  yes!  Shriek  it,  oh  ye  winds 
of  heaven;  ring  it  to  the  sea — Topiltzin  is  a  traitor!  To 
such  a  king  a  rebel!  an  avenger  I" 

"Mine  only  kin  in  mercy  hear  me.  By  the  love  you 
bear  me,  I  implore  you  spare  those  stricken  people  fur- 
ther misery.  They  are  in  dreadful  want — ill,  starving! 
Oh,  pitying  heaven,  lend  me  some  gentle  power  to  calm 


114  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

his  fearful  anger.  Topiltzin,  a  year  ago  and  more  the 
elements  of  nature  began  warring  with  this  vale." 

"And  you  ask  me  to  spare  them  when  the  Supreme 
Deity  will  not  do  so?  Hueman,  there  was  a  time  when 
all  of  your  gentle  pleading  had  power  to  move  me,  and 
changed  the  current  of  my  life,  held  my  will  in  check, 
and  led  me  by  some  fearful  force  which  my  impulses 
could  not  resist,  but  now  the  flood-gates  of  my  wrath  are 
torn  asunder,  and  not  one  power  but  death  can  stay  re- 
venge!" 

"Oh,  pity  those  poor,  shivering  wrecks  down  in  that 
once  proud  vale.  Your  heart  would  ache  and  throb  with 
mercy  to  walk  those  streets  as  I  have  done  and  feel  those 
beseeching,  hungry  eyes  upon  you." 

"I  will  save  them;  I  will  provide  a  way  for  them  to 
exist  until  another  crop  has  grown,  and  I  will  give  that 
king  his  choice — to  surrender  every  claim  peacefully  or 
marshal  his  hungry  hosts  to  meet  my  well-fed  and  well- 
equipped  army  upon  the  field  of  battle." 

"Topiltzin,  tell  me  about  your  quest — did  you  rescue 
those  poor  besieged  missionaries  who  were  undergoing 
slow  starvation  walled  up  in  their  cliff-tower  homes?" 

"I  saved  the  remnant  of  that  band,  and  they  are  now 
with  my  army  awaiting  my  return,  and  I  cannot  longer 
tarry  here,  Hueman." 

"Topiltzin,  for  nearly  two  long  years  I  have  kept  a 
message  for  you  from  the — from  she  whom  you  love." 

"Speak  on,  Hueman,  in  mercy  tell  me  what  my  mar- 
tyred love  did  say  for  me  ?  I  know  the  fearful  facts — all 
that  monster  imposed  upon  her — know  all  about  the  mur- 
der of  her  mother ;  know,  too,  that  the  very  heaven  will 
veil  itself  in  blood  before  I  retract  my  vow.  Tell  me 
what  my  wounded  dove  has  said  for  me;  her  pleading 
eyes  are  ever  gazing  into  mine,  and  her  sweet  voice, 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  1 1 5 

those  tender  tones,  I  heard  them  in  the  wailing  of  the 
winds  that  whispered  me  to  sleep,  and  in  the  softly  gurg- 
ling, limpid  stream;  no  warbler  of  the  forest  wilds  but 
seemed  to  have  caught  some  echo  of  her  dear  gentle  tones 
— my  soul  and  heart  and  brain  were  bursting  by  this 
crushing  weight  of  sorrow,  while  those  terrific  warnings 
of  the  heavens  brought  terror  and  dismay  to  cursed  Tol- 
lan;  the  hurricane  that  swept  across  my  breast  throbbed 
every  impulse  to  decisive  action.  Hueman,  I  only  wait  to 
hear  her  message/' 

"These  were  her  words  to  me  before  she  took  the  vows 
that  made  her  queen — 'do  me  this  one  great  favor — 
when  Topiltzin  returns,  say  to  him  in  my  name  that  to 
save  this  stricken  realm  from  severing  ruin  I  gave  my 
life;  my  love  he  knows  is  his  since  we  were  babes;  tell 
him  the  memory  of  this  heaven  sent  truth  shall  be  my 
beacon  to  light  my  dark  and  narrow  way  and  give  me 
patience  to  perform  my  task  until  my  fettered  spirit 
breaks  its  galling  chains  and  flies  to  him.  Tell  him  to 
accept  this  dreadful  fate  as  I  have  done.'  These  were  her 
words  to  you.  Come,  lay  your  bonny  head  upon  my 
breast  just  as  you  did  in  childhood's  sunny  days.  Ye 
gods,  it  is  a  fearful  sight  to  see  a  warrior  weep !  Listen, 
Topiltzin,  and  I  will  tell  you  more  of  her.  She  has 
proved  herself  to  be  a  worthy,  generous,  gracious  queen, 
and  our  people  all  do  worship  her,  and  she  loves  those 
grateful  hosts,  and  when  you  turn  the  fury  of  your  wrath 
upon  those  people  in  their  distress  and  misery,  remember 
that  she  would  never  countenance  such  a  dreadful  move 
as  you  propose  to  make." 

"Hueman,  recall  to  memory  the  dreadful  nature  of  that 
crime  which  he  committed  and  glossed  with  marriage 
vows;  the  very  gods  of  the  entire  universe  denounce 
him.  Had  I  been  near  enough  to  have  learned  of  his 


Il6  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

beastly  atrocities  I  would  have  rescued  my  injured  loved 
one  or  have  perished  in  the  attempt.    You  did  not  sound 
the  gong  of  war  amiss,  two  nations  were  advancing  upon 
Tollantzingo,  and  had  we  not  have  intercepted  them  at 
that  auspicious  period  they  would  have  joined  with  the 
ready  Chichimecas,  and  with  such  a  formidable  resistance 
my  army  would,  I  fear,  have  been  cut  to  pieces,  and  I 
doubt  if  our  whole  nation  could  have  overcome  such  an 
attack.    In  their  retreat  we  managed  to  secure  some  im- 
portant captives  who  were  runners  sent  from  our  mission- 
aries in  the  far  north,  repeating  the  supplication  that  we 
send  them  assistance  without  delay,  or  it  would  be  too  late 
as  the  natives  were  in  revolt,  and  were  endeavoring  to 
reach   their   elevated   homes.      I    appointed   those    run- 
ners to  guide  us  back  to  those  beseiged  people  whom  we 
rescued  from  annihilation,  although  they  had  an  abund- 
ance of    provision.    Their    lofty    abiding    places    were 
marvels  of  ingenuity  and  skill  hewn  into  the  rock-ribbed 
mountains,  and  chambered  artistically  while   they  had 
formed  the  only  window  at  such  a  favored  angle  that  it 
commanded  a  full  view  of  the  heavens,  and  swept  the 
surrounding  country  for  leagues  and  leagues,  although 
latticed  and  obscured  from  view  with  trailing  vines. 

"Their  subterranean  halls,  where  the  solemn  rites  of 
brotherhood  were  administered  and  enjoined,  reached 
away  from  the  aperture  far  into  the  hillside.  Each  sur- 
viving hero  of  that  intrepid  band  will  rally  around  my 
standard,  and  they  all  approve  of  the  course  which  I  shall 
pursue.  The  time  has  arrived  for  me  to  act,  and  the 
canker  eating  into  my  loved  one's  heart  and  mine  has 
nerved  me  to  proclaim  my  lawful  heirship  to  the  throne 
and  save  our  nation." 

"Oh,  rescue  them  from  hunger,  Topiltzin;  come  down 
with  me  now  and  promise  them  relief." 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  117 

"Hueman,  mine  eyes  could  not  rest  one  instant  upon 
that  stricken  horde  and  let  their  prodigal  and  misguided 
ruler  live!  You  told  me  once  how  fondly  you  too  have 
loved ;  told  of  the  treacherous  crime  that  made  her  mad ! 
She,  whom  you  loved,  could  not  have  been  dearer  to  you 
by  any  tie  than  that  which  binds  my  love  to  me,  and  that 
same  traitor  who  deprived  me  of  all  my  earthly  happiness 
has  wrenched  from  me  my  birthright!  Perhaps,  I,  too, 
am  mad!  But  do  not  imagine  for  one  moment  that  I 
can  make  terms  of  any  kind  with  such  as  he — you  ask  too 
much  of  me,  Hueman,  mine  inherent  nature  made  of 
me — 

"A  host,  to  war  with  wanton  wills, 
And  love  as  steadfast  as  the  rock-bound  hills." 

"Know  you  that  she  has  a  child?" 

"Yes,  that  I  know,  Hueman;  know  too  that  not  one 
trace  of  his  vile  image  marks  the  child.  Had  it  been 
born  a  minature  of  him,  I'd  tear  it  from  it's  mother's 
sheltering  arms  and  dash  its  brains  out  against  the  pal- 
ace wall  rather  than  rear  to  manhood  such  a  hybrid  crea- 
ture !  He  has  his  mother's  lovely  eyes,  the  same  sweet 
pensive  mouth  and  the  dimpled  chin ;  Hueman,  I  love  that 
child  almost  as  if  it  were  my  very  own." 

"My  Topiltzin,  you  have  a  noble  heart,  gentle  as  a 
woman's  in  some  things,  and  in  others — well,  I  shall  no 
longer  plead  with  you  for  aught  but  patience." 

"Hueman,  the  smothered  fires  of  my  indignation  con- 
sumed my  patience  long  months  ago,  and  some  mad  spirit 
within  me  seems  to  shriek  this  truth  that — 

I  have  battled  with  this  purpose  with  my  spirit  bruised 

and  torn, 
Have  wrestled  from  the  close  of  day  until  the  rise  of 

morn; 


Il8  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

In  the  march  and  'round  the  camp-fire  questioned  every 
star  that  glows, 

But  earth  and  sky  and  my  own  heart  have  always  answer- 
ed no! 

"Hueman,  we  have  in  a  secure  and  well-guarded  cav- 
ern in  yonder  mountain  side  a  large  supply  of  grain,  meat 
and  vegetables  of  sufficient  quantity  to  relieve  the  wants 
of  these  stricken  people  until  another  harvest  grows, 
when  I  am  king!" 

"Oh,  Topiltzin,  your  words  seem  such  a  boastful 
mockery  to  me.  What  a  precious  boon  to  those  poor  suf- 
fering people  a  small  portion  of  your  stores  would  be; 
a  scant  amount  of  grain  has  been  hoarded  by  the  provi- 
dent queen,  of  which  a  small  quantity  is  doled  out  to  the 
starving  people,  and  even  that  can  hardly  last  another 
moon  I  have  been  told." 

"I  have  an  abundance  of  fresh  grown  maize,  beans, 
vegetables  and  dried  meats  of  every  kind,  also  many 
varieties  of  fruits.  I  have  every  runner  who  was  sent 
commanding  me  to  return,  also  each  gardner,  farmer  and 
slave  outside  of  the  city  gates,  and  every  guard  of  every 
city  out  side  of  Tollantzingo  in  the  Tollan  kingdom;  it 
will  take  but  a  short  time  to  marshal  them  with  mine 
army;  my  scouts  are  never  idle,  and  I  am  informed  by 
them  that  the  Chichimecas  have  formed  an  alliance  with 
the  Xochimilcas  and  Tezcocans,  and  are  now  striving  to 
entice  the  Culhuaca  nation  to  join  them,  and  if  they  do, 
while  Tecpantcaltzin  rules,  and  make  an  attack  upon  us, 
the  Toltec  nation  will  be  overpowered.  With  my  large 
force  of  well-fed,  well-equipped,  conquering  braves  in  the 
fortress  of  Tollantzingo  I  can  defy  them  and  save  our 
race  from  certain  destruction  if  he  will  yield  to  me  su- 
preme control,  and  leave  the  throne  in  peace ;  then  we  can 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  119 

save  Tollan.  Hueman,  will  you  do  me  this  one  great 
favor?  Will  you  lay  these  facts  before  him — unless  he 
submits  to  my  terms  I  shall  storm  the  fort  to-day." 

"No,  no,  my  kin;  no,  I  cannot  bear  such  a  message 
from  you  to  him ;  but  yonder  comes  Papantzin,  lay  bare 
these  facts  to  him." 

"Ah,  Topiltzin,  brother  chieftain,  I  am  glad  indeed  to 
welcome  you  home  again ;  but,  oh,  what  fearful  changes 
have  been  wrought  since  last  we  met!" 

"Yes,  Papantzin,  and  why?" 

"An  angry  god  has  devastated  all  Tollan." 

"What  of  your  king?" 

"Oh,  Topiltzin,  I  guard  my  pent-up  feelings  by  the 
effort  of  a  mighty  will — he  humbled  himself  to  the  very 
dust,  beseeching  my  pardon,  which  I  granted  him. 
When  once  my  word  is  given  my  heart  and  soul  are  loyal 
to  my  vow.  He  strives  to  be  more  manly  now  and  is 
kind  and  devoted  to  my  precious  child." 

"Hold,  Papantzin,  by  all  the  gods!  He  shall  not  be 
exonerated  in  my  presence  by  even  you !  When  was  he 
kind  to  your  child,  and  to  you?  Was  it  when  he  made 
of  her  a  prisoner  in  Palpans  rock-bound  walls,  and  slew 
her  gentle  mother  and  your  thousand  braves?  Then 
strove  by  Toloache's  cursed  power  to  murder  you  ? 
What  wonder  when  his  crimes  had  found  him  out  that  he 
slunk  upon  his  ready  knees  cringing  and  beseeching  of 
you  to  pardon  a  crime  which  a  just  and  angry  God  would 
not  condone!  Henceforth  I  bear  the  name  of  traitor  to 
him  whom  you  call  kind!  I  have  come  to  Tollantzingo 
to  demand  my  rights,  and  have  come  prepared  to  en- 
force them,  and  if  he  will  not  peacefully  resign  control 
and  allow  me  to  save  our  nation  from  the  throes  of 
famine  and  annihilation  by  the  united  forces  who  are  now 
preparing  to  attack  Tollantzingo,  then  tell  him  to  retain  it 


12O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

by  his  might !  I  am  aware  of  his  ignoble  acts  since  I  was 
here,  and  know  that  all  of  his  wealth  in  gold,  silver  and 
precious  gems — which  are  his  only  store — cannot  provide 
our  people  with  sustenance  if  he  endeavored  to  dispose 
of  them,  for  there  is  absolutely  nothing  to  buy;  the  king- 
doms of  Maayha  and  Tlapallan  have  suffered  quite  as 
badly  as  we  from  the  warring  of  the  elements,  and  are 
now  in  revolt!  You  know  that  the  rule  of  Tecpantcalt- 
zin  has  been  a  shameless,  prodigal  one  from  the  beginning 
until  now ;  a  fact  that  you  cannot  deny,  and  it  is  time  that 
some  one  seized  the  reins  of  government  before  it  is  too 
late  and  all  be  lost !" 

"Topiltzin,  my  brother  chieftain,  if  I  should  say  as  if 
from  the  depths  of  sincerity  that  I  blame  you,  then  I  had 
lied!" 

"I  believe  you,  Papantzin,  no  alien  blood  permeates  your 
noble  frame,  and  it  will  grieve  my  soul  to  meet  you  and 
yours  arrayed  against  me." 

"My  hands  shall  never  be  raised  to  war  against  you. 
Pochotl  now  has  charge  of  my  command,  but  the  plague ! 
That  most  dreaded  of  all  monsters,  stalks  abroad  Tollan 
smiting  the  starving  people  and  fast  thinning  the  ranks 
of  all  of  our  braves;  you  will  find  these  panic  stricken 
hosts  an  easy  prey.  I  cannot  ask  you  to  withhold  re- 
venge, the  uselessness  of  such  a  plea  flashes  from  your 
indignant  eyes.  I  shall  linger  near  my  child  during  the 
terrible  conflict  to  shelter  and  protect  her  and  hers." 

"Do  me  this  favor  then,  Papantzin,  say  to  your  king 
that  the  thousand  braves  whom  he  ordered  to  be  slain, 
belonging  to  my  command,  I  have  brought  back  to  Tol- 
lan, and  many  thousand  more  to  combat  his  unworthy 
power;  tell  him  that  I,  the  rebel  Topiltzin,  command  him 
to  vacate  the  throne  in  peace,  or  sound  the  screaming 
Teohuehuetl  and  be  prepared  for  war!  Here  take  m^ 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  121 

hand  in  brotherhood,  to  you  and  yours  I  am  no  traitor, 
we  know  not  what  red  sea  of  blood  may  wall  between 
us  before  the  setting  of  another  sun,  and  if  I  fall,  tell  her 
I  died  for  love  of  her  and  our  proud  nation's  weal ;  happy 
in  dying  for  her  if  I  cannot  while  living  claim  her  for  my 
own." 

"I  will  tell  her,  Topiltzin,  and,  oh,  how  my  soul  grieves 
for  the  outcome  of  such  a  worthy  love  as  yours;  I  dare 
not  dwell  upon  it.  Farewell,  and  may  the  gods  aid  you 
in  doing  all  things  well." 

As  he  departed  Topiltzin  turned  to  me  saying: 

"Farewell  my  kin,  dear,  patient,  just  Hueman,  may 
heaven  watch  over  you  and  keep  you  from  all  harm." 

"Oh,  Topiltzin,  there  is  a  dreadful  weight  tugging  at 
my  breaking  heart  strings  now ;  oh,  would  that  I  had  the 
power  to  plead  with  you  to  stay  your  avenging  hands  and 
save  us  from  annihilation !  Oh,  may  the  gods  subdue  the 
king  since  you  are  eager  to  begin  the  fray." 

My  words  are  useless  to  him  now,  he  has  gone  to  await 
the  issue  of  his  threat,  and  I  will  endeavor  to  explain, 
persuade  or  approach  the  king  with  words  of  reason — 
I  dread  the  task,  my  art  seems  to  have  forsaken  me  upon 
some  desert  waste  or  pinnacle,  from  which  I  cannot  find 
the  way  that  leads  to  peace. 


122  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"Papantzin,  this  dreadful  news  does  paralyze  my  very 
soul!  I  had  not  dreamed  it  were  possible  for  Topiltzin 
to  inveigle  his  hosts  in  such  a  dastardly  scheme;  think 
you  that  he  might  be  bribed  ?" 

"Never !  The  bare  suggestion  would  only  incense  him 
more." 

"Did  you  there  strive  to  reason  with  him,  Papantzin  ?" 

"Reason?  As  well  attempt  to  reason  with  a  tempest's 
lashing  roar!  You  have  no  time  to  lose,  unless  you  do 
accede  to  his  demands  your  men  must  be  prepared  to  meet 
him  on  the  field  of  action.  This  is  a  fearful  moment  for 
us  all;  but  you  alone  can  say  whether  your  kingdom  be 
overthrown  by  words  or  deeds!' 

"If  any  traitor  rules  my  throne  it  will  be  through 
streams  of  blood  and  over  mine  inanimate  form!  Go, 
Papantzin,  and  order  double  rations  for  our  men,  and  it 
will  take  the  last  grain  of  maize  that  there  is  in  Tollant- 
zingo.  Go,  tell  my  queen  of  this  infamous  outrage 
which  is  meditated,  and  tell  her  that  she  need  have  no 
fear  that  any  traitor's  feet  shall  cross  this  threshold  unless 
I  fall  in  its  defense ;  tell  her  that  I  shall  lead  the  charge." 

"And  if  the  Chichimecas  have  formed  an  alliance  with 
those  other  formidable  nations  and  do  make  an  attempt 
to  invade  our  territory  during  this  lamentable  siege?" 

"Fate  cannot  be  so  cruel !  Methinks  the  clever  prophe- 
sies of  Hueman  were  not  all  based  upon  his  knowledge 
of  the  stars." 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  12$ 

"Oh,  do  not  censure  the  worthy  prophet;  I  heard  him 
plead  with  stubborn  Topiltzin  as  for  his  very  life,  and 
leave  him  shivering  with  regret  and  horror!" 

"It  is  well  for  him  that  you  bring  such  news  to  me; 
had  he  turned  traitor  too  I  would  have  sent  a  detachment 
of  men  to  bring  him  here  a  prisoner." 

"A  prisoner !  Him,  the  Priest  and  Prophet !  You  are 
indeed  gone  mad  to  cherish  such  a  rash  thought  for  an 
instant !  Your  men  would  defy  your  commands  were 
you  to  issue  them,  for  the  fear  and  reverence  which  they 
have  for  the  loyal  prophet-priest  exceeds — oh,  but  here 
he  comes,  and  can  answer  for  himself." 

"Hueman,  I  trust  that  you  have  come  to  tell  me  that 
that  rebel  kin  of  yours  has  abandoned  the  audacious 
crime  which  he  contemplates  in  my  domain?" 

"Would  to  heaven  that  it  were  within  my  power  to  tell 
you  so." 

"This,  then  was  his  object  in  detaining  my  runners 
and  defying  my  commands  ?" 

"No,  he  did  not  detain  them,  but  they  chose  to  join  his 
ranks." 

"You !  You  dare  to  tell  me  this  when  you  have  warn- 
ed and  urged  me  to  send  more  men !  Hueman,  this  looks 
like  treachery  too!" 

"Tecpantcaltzin,  I  scorn  to  waste  words  in  vindication 
of  such  an  unjust  accusation  which  you  know  is  beneath 
my  principles." 

"Then,  where  is  Topiltzin?" 

"He  has  gone  to  join  his  army,  which  is  stationed  a 
few  leagues  from  here,  where  he  will  tarry  until  sunset 
for  your  signal,  he  has  said." 

"Then  let  them  come !  My  men  shall  wall  the  gates  of 
Tollantzingo  thousands  deep !  My  final  orders  have  gone 
forth,  and  the  war-gong  shall  at  once  be  sounded." 


124  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"I  fear  me  it  will  sound  the  knell  of  doom !" 

"Return,  Hueman,  and  keep  a  sharp  lookout  from 
yonder  cliff,  for  if  the  Chichimecas  have  formed  an  alli- 
ance with  other  nations  and  do  approach  you  must  signal 
from  the  cliff  without  delay.  Then,  too,  I  fear  that  your 
presence  here  at  this  auspicious  hour  may  jeopardize  your 
life." 

"Tecpantcaltzin,  there  was  a  day  and  more  than  one, 
when  by  acclamation  had  he  chosen  thus  to  be  ruler  of 
Tollan,  and  myself  the  great  high  priest  we  could  have 
been  such.  But  that  peaceful  nature  so  characteristic  of 
our  people  restrained  him  until  you  broke  his  loyal  heart 
by  tearing  from  him  all  that  he  held  most  sacred.  Yes,  I 
will  return  and  set  watch  on  yonder  hill — will  raise  the 
burning  torch  to  signal  you  if  the  united  armies,  too,  in- 
vade us.  Give  to  the  gentle  queen  my  kind  regards,  and 
tell  her  that  my  retreat  is  safe  from  every  foe,  and  I  glad- 
ly offer  her  its  shelter." 

"The  queen  shall  remain  just  where  she  is,  well  guard- 
ed by  my  men;  no  savage  host  nor  disappointed  lover 
can  find  an  entrance  there." 

"Sir!" 

All  of  the  pent-up  sorrow,  regret  and  indignation  were 
concentrated  in  that  monosyllable  when  it  fell  from  the 
drawn  quivering  lips  of  the  aged  prophet,  who  hastened 
from  the  palace  murmuring — "I  dared  not  attempt  to 
utter  another  word,  not  even  to  denounce  the  absurdity 
of  his  evil  and  unjust  insinuations;  but,  ah,  I  know  by 
the  foreboding  air  which  oppresses  me  that  my  feet  have 
crossed  the  palace  grounds  for  the  last  time.  I  have  no 
wish  to  live  beyond  my  nation's  life. 

Night  has  fallen  and  dear  Quetzalcoahtl's  radiant 
gaze  seems  riveted  upon  Tollantzingo,  as  if  he  longed  to 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

snatch  this  monumented  vale  from  off  the  universe  and 
hide  it  in  the  serried  fields  of  air. 

The  winds  have  ceased  their  play  and  every  leaf  which 
escaped  the  driving  storm  is  poised  attentively  as  if  afraid 
that  its  gentle  whisperings  might  anticipate  the  fearful 
catastrophe  about  to  burst  upon  us.  The  insects  in  their 
variegated  colors  have  sought  the  welcome  shelter  of  I 
their  little  homes  as  the  dismal  howl  of  the  shrieking! 
Teohuehuetl  sounds  throughout  this  moon-kissed  vale 
of  sorrow;  the  trilling  notes  of  night  birds  are  hushed, 
and  again  and  again  the  slumbering  echoes  are  awakened 
by  the  demoniac  cries  of  the  bellowing  war  alarm. 

The  gleaming  bosom  of  the  lake  is  hushed  and  scarce 
a  ripple  raises  its  ghostly  head  as  if  it  too  would 
know  whose  arrows  will  begin  the  coming  siege.  Stately 
trees  have  bowed  and  withered  branches  stretched  forth 
as  if  in  mute  appeal  to  the  ruler  of  the  elements  to  stay 
the  approaching  storm  of  human  strife;  all  nature  is 
hushed  in  a  threatening  calm  awaiting  the  martial  tread 
of  those  rebellious  braves. 

The  sunset  defied  its  equal  in  hue, 
Of  fire  and  gold  of  silver  and  blue. 

With  pale  tinted  colors  spun,  a  web  of  glory  was 
revealed  from  height  to  height  as  if  reluctant  to  dispel 
the  light  of  dying  day  which  I  fear  will  arise  upon  a  vale 
of  desolation ! 

Fair  luna  gleams  with  ashen  face  as  if  she  too  would 
warn  the  world  of  the  fires  that  rage  in  her  volcanic 
breast  which  consume  her  vitals,  pall  her  dead  face, 
and  wedge  her  in  a  ceaseless  round  of  evolution. 

Oh,  what  is  that  long  line  winding  its  way  like  ser- 
pents? They  come  not  from  the  direction  which  Topilt- 


126  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

zin's  army  will  advance.  Ye  gods!  It  is  the  united 
armies !  I  will  set  the  flaming  signal  upon  the  cliff  and 
nerve  myself  to  warn  my  Topiltzin;  and  now  the  king 
must  know  the  dreadful  fact,  and  I  will  manage  to  let 
myself  down  on  the  forest  side  of  my  cavern  and  hasten 
to  inform  my  Topiltzin. 

The  way  is  tangled,  and  creeping  vines  retard  my 
eager  feet.  Withered  branches  and  massive  forest  trees 
hewn  by  the  hand  of  the  hurricane  impede  my  way,  but 
hark!  I  do  hear  other  steps  than  mine,  and  I  see  the 
glaring  eyes  o'f  some  savage  beast  which  is  keeping  pace 
with  me.  Oh,  had  I  but  the  strength  and  suppleness  of 
youth  I  would  not  fear  the  monster.  Perhaps  I  may  be 
able  to  defend  myself  with  my  trusty  blade  which  is  keen. 
I  hear  the  guarded  tread  of  many  feet  and  know  that  the 
rebels  are  fast  approaching,  and  none  too  soon,  for  the 
savage  growls  and  snapping  viscous  teeth  of  the  moun- 
tain lion  are  dangerously  near  me.  Oh,  thou  Supreme 
Deity,  aid  me  and  save  me  until  I  warn  my  Topiltzin! 
"Topiltzin!  Oh,  hear  me!"  My  voice  sounds  strangely 
hoarse,  and  the  dreadful  beast  is  preparing  to  leap  upon 
me.  "Topiltzin!  Come,  save  me!  Oh,  he  sees  me  and 
draws  his  ready  bow — Oh,  spare  me !  It  is  I,  your  own 
Hueman."  *  *  * 

"What  have  I  done!  Oh,  speak  to  me,  Hueman! 
Speak,  I  implore  you  before  I  plunge  this  reeking  blade 
into  my  breaking  heart.  How  could  I  imagine  for  an  in- 
stant that  it  was  you.  When  I  saw  that  gleaming  uplift- 
ed blade,  I  thought  it  was  poised  by  an  assassin  sent  by 
Tecpantcaltzin,  who  would  by  murdering  me  have  de- 
moralized mine  army.  Oh,  speak  one  little  word  to  me,  if 
only  to  say  forgive?" 

"They — have — united.      They — are — at — the — gates — 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  I2/ 

now — fly — to — the — rescue  I  Flank — them !  F-1-a-n-k — 
them " 

"I  cannot  leave  you  in  this  desperate  condition,  not 
now,  Hueman;  I  must  do  something  to  staunch  this  ter- 
rible wound." 

"The— herb— in—my— belt !" 

"Thank  heaven  that  you  are  provided  with  the  precious 
herb !  This  will  relieve  you  without  delay !  See  we  have 
killed  the  ugly  beast  that  attacked  you;  there  now,  you 
will  soon  revive,  for  the  flow  has  ceased." 

"Go — oh,  do — go — and — save — the — queen !" 

"I  have  commanded  three  thousand  of  my  men  to 
hasten  on  and  flank  them,  and  now  we  will  carry  you  back 
to  the  cavern.  You  know  that  it  will  not  divert  our  path, 
and  I  will  leave  a  guard  to  watch  over  you  there,  then 
I  will  hurry  on  to  aid  the  king !" 

"The  Supreme  Deity  be  praised!  He  has  answered 
my  fervent  prayer !  Topiltzin,  to  the  rescue !  Now  I  can 
die  in  peace." 

"You  must  not,  shall  not  die !  See  you  are  much  bet- 
ter, and  we  are  near  your  home." 

"Yes,  I  am  Better,  and  you  need  not  leave  a  man  with 
me;  you  will  need  them  all  and  more;  no,  no,  I  cannot 
say  farewell !  You  will  return  to  me  as  king !" 

He  is  hurrying  his  noble  army  to  the  rescue — oh,  how 
proud  am  I  to  chronicle  the  fact ;  but  I  cannot  stay  with- 
in these  walls ;  I  shall  creep  out  upon  the  pinnacle  that  I 
may  be  nearer  to  heaven;  ah,  those  deafening  cries,  they 
pierce  my  wounded  breast ;  ha,  what  skulking  form  is  this 
approaching?  It  is  indeed  a  woman! 

"Ezcolotl,  how  have  you  managed  to  reach  here  at  this 
time  and  alone?" 

"The  gods  of  pity  lent  me  wings,  Hueman;  I  cannot 
tell  you  what  dreadful  deeds  are  being  committed  in 


128  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

Tollantzingo  now;  the  enemy  beat  down  the  gates,  then 
mowed  our  people  to  earth  like  grain  before  the  sickle. 
Their  flashing  macanas  are  reeking  with  blood!" 

"How  did  you  tnen  manage  to  escape  them?" 

"All  of  the  women  who  could  were  permitted  to  seek 
shelter  in  the  palace  grounds,  and  we  might  have  been 
safe  there  but  mother  was  determined  to  return 
to  our  cottage  and  get  some  lovely  jewels  which 
she  had  left,  and  I  could  not  see  her  go  alone. 
The  enemy  had  scaled  the  walls;  they  seized 
my  mother,  and  I  flew  toward  the  palace  for 
aid,  but  I  heard  her  scream  of  mortal  agony  and  saw 
her  fall  and  die;  then  I  ran  around  the  palace  wall  into 
the  darkest  shadows  to  come  to  you ;  I  heard  the  king  urg- 
ing the  imperial  guards  who  were  then  at  the  fortress 
gates." 

"Were  the  gates  open,  Ezcolotl?" 

"I  cannot  say,  and  I  have  been  a  long,  long  time  in  mak- 
ing the  journey  here,  and  I  was  so  excited  and  frightened 
that  I  cannot  remember  whether  the  gates  were  open  or 
closed." 

"I  fear  that  they  are  beating  down  the  ramparts  now. 
Oh,  thou  Supreme  Deity,  spare  the  queen !  Ezcolotl, 
hasten  to  the  cavern — get — plant — bring — water — I — am 
f-a-i-n-t-i-n-g!" 

"Oh,  Hueman,  wake  up ;  do  awaken  and  speak  to  me ! 
I  am  so  frightened,  and  this  is  blood  upon  his  breast — he 
is  wounded!  Dying!  Oh,  let  me  raise  your  head !" 

"Ah — now  I  am — better;  it  is — perhaps — quite  for- 
tunate— you — came — " 

"You  are  terribly  wounded,  dear  Hueman,  a  stream  of 
blood  is  gushing  from  your  breast;  what  can  I  do  to 
staunch  it?" 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  I2g 

"Go — into — cave — get  plant —  is  —  growing  —  there — 
quick!" 

"Oh,  Hueman,  do  not  send  me  into  that  dreadful  cav- 
ern; I  cannot  urge  myself  against  my  fears,  they  are 
consuming  me !" 

"Go— I— am— d-y-i-n-g !" 

"Oh,  oh;  I,  too,  shall  die  of  terror  if  I  try  to  enter 
there!" 

"G-o!" 

"Your  dreadful  eyes  are  eating  holes  into  my  flesh! 
In  mercy  spare  me,  yes,  I  must ;  you  move  me  now  against 
my  will."  *  *  * 

"Here,  here,  Hueman,  I  have  the  leaves  of  the  plant, 
and  I  will  place  them  upon  your  bosom.  Oh,  what  a 
ghastly  wound !  Now  you  are  better,  the  blood  has 
ceased  to  flow;  I  was  nearly  crazed  with  fear,  but  your 
stern  fascinating  eyes  led  me  directly  to  the  plant.  I 
closed  my  eyes  for  fear  of  seeing  goblins  and  spirits,  and 
the  gods  know  what  not,  and  I  did  not  open  them  until  I 
came  back  to  you;  but  I  know  that  the  cavern  was  filled 
with  grinning,  jabbering  ghosts.  Do  you  still  hear  me, 
good  Hueman?  In  pity  speak  to  me  again;  please  say 
just  one  little  word  that  I  may  know  you  are  not  dead." 

"W-a-i-t !" 

"Bless  you,  Hueman,  a  thousand  times;  had  you  not 
answered  me  I  would  have  shrieked  in  frenzy  regardless 
of  the  enemy  bellowing  like  many  savage  beasts  down 
in  that  gory  vale.  Is  it  the  herb  that  you  wish  ?  And  can 
you  eat  it,  too?  I  would  suffer  any  torture  rather  than 
place  that  living,  creeping,  crawling  leaf  between  my  lips. 
Oh,  do  you  hear  that  deafening  roar,  Hueman,  it  sounds 
like  some  victorious  cry?" 

"Raise— my— head !" 

"A  little  more!" 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"There  now,  you  can  see  across  that  reeking  vale  of 
death!" 

"Oh,  my  heart — is  bursting — with — its — weight — of 
sorrow — beautiful — Tollantzingo — demolished  by  savage 
hands — oh,  may  they  spare  the  golden  garden  of  the 
sun-god — the  queen — oh,  surely  they  cannot  raise  a  hand 
to  injure  her — oh,  would  I,  too,  had  died  before  I  re- 
alized my  prophesy  fulfilled." 

"Do  not  trouble  yourself  about  the  city ;  our  people  are 
mighty,  notwithstanding  their  distress ;  I  am  so  glad  that 
you  are  better ;  I  thought  my  scared  and  trembling  being 
would  collapse  in  very  fear  until  I  held  that  strange  mag- 
netic plant  within  my  grasp;  it  seemed  to  tingle  every 
fibre  of  my  being,  and  I  can  now  understand  why  you  so 
much  desired  it;  please  forgive  me  for  hesitating  in  that 
unfeeling  manner  for  my  heart  is  nearly  breaking  with 
the  fearful  strain  which  I  have  undergone  this  night.  Oh, 
Hueman,  tell  me  one  little  word  about  Topiltzin?" 

"He  is  down  there  among  that  fiendish  horde,  heaven 
.help  him!" 

"Oh,  ye  gods,  protect  him !    I  had  not  dreamed  that  he 

ttoo  were  there;  it  was  said  that  he  was  away  to  the  far 

Tiorth.    Oh,  Hueman,  do  tell  me  a  prayer  like  yours  that 

I  may  call  upon  your  God  to  spare  him !    Our  idols  have 

not  granted  one  of  our  prayers  for  moons  and  moons, 

not  once  since  she,  Xochitl,  was  made  queen;  the  people 

one  and  all  do  say  that  she  brought  a  blighting  curse  upon 

Tollan,  for  the  very  elements  of  nature  have  frowned 

upon  us  all  on  her  account." 

"Hush  your  blabbing  tongue ;  your  foolish  words  defile 
my  hearing ;  the  wanton  profligate  king  brought  all  of  the 
curse  upon  Tollan  by  improvidence  and  barbarity — since 
he  wed  he  has  been  held  in  check  by  the  influence  of  the 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  I  3  I 

gentle  queen,  but  it  was  too  late  to  undo  the  wasteful  ex- 
ample of  years." 

"Ah,  yes,  she  prayed,  urged  him  to  disregard  the  wis- 
dom of  the  high-priest,  and  the  war-god  clamored  in 
vain  for  offerings  at  the  sacrifice ;  which  if  he  had  obeyed, 
we  would  never  have  known  this  fearful  persecution 
which  is  running  riot  now." 

"  You  frivolous  thoughtless  girl,  a  moment  ago  you 
were  pleading  for  a  prayer  of  mine;  now  you  extol  the 
power  of  metal  in  lieu  of  the  Supreme  Deity!  Oh,  you 
blasphemous  creature !" 

"No,  Hueman,  pray  do  not  say  that;  I  am  only  just 
telling  you  what  others  say ;  why  the  good  priest  Huemac 
wept  like  a  child  when  he  told  my  father's  people  how 
the  king  answered  him  when  he  urged  him  to  offer  up 
a  sacrifice.  These  were  his  exact  words — 'away  with 
you,  nor  flaunt  your  brutal  wisdom  upon  my  roseate 
dreams  like  darkling  bat-wings  upon  my  palace  walls/ 
Now,  I  think  that  his  roseate  dreams  are  turned  to  gall 
and  wormwood,  Hueman?  Perchance,  his  boasted  pal- 
ace walls  are  now  crumbling  under  the  battle  axes  of  the 
destroying  Chichimecas." 

"The  Supreme  Deity  forbid !" 

"What,  have  you  then  a  tender  feeling  for  the  king? 
It  was  said — and  often  repeated  in  Tollantzingo — that 
you  and  the  king  have  been  sworn  enemies  ever  since  he 
took  Xochitl  for  his  queen.  I  think  that  she  made  herself 
quite  cleverly  conspicuous  in  order  to  attract  his  atten- 
tion ;  why  any  one  could  have  found  the  wine  of  maguey 
if  they  had  been  one  half  as  curious  as  she  was.  Had  I 
been  a  particle  as  bold  I  too  might  have  been  a  princess, 
and  perhaps  a  queen !  When  she  brazenly  insisted  upon 
carrying  a  cup  of  the  wine  to  the  king  it  was  only  an  ex- 
cuse for  her  to  call  her  shapely  figure  into  notice,  and 


132  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

she  jealously  arranged  for  me  to  be  commanded  to  drag 
a  great  load  of  the  well-known  maguey  into  the  palace 
and  follow  at  her  heels  like  a  paid  servant.  Ye  gods,  I 
never  thought  until  the  task  was  done  what  a  ridiculous 
fool  I  was  to  allow  her  to  prance  me  about  in  order  to 
give  her  a  chance  to  show  her  importance,  and  at  the 
expense  of  my  sensitive  feelings !  The  idea  of  her  wish- 
ing to  make  such  a  display  of  that  little  discovery  which 
she  really  stumbled  upon,  and  then  cause  me  to  become 
a  walking  maguey  field  just  for  effect!  I  am  surprised 
that  the  king  did  not  order  a  servant  with  a  broom  to 
whisk  us  all  out  of  the  palace,  for  the  earth  filtered 
through  my  fingers  and  trailed  along  the  halls." 

"Oh,  Ezcolotl,  do  me  the  great  favor  to  close  the  creak- 
ing doors  of  your  volubility,  and  induce  your  ears  to  play 
some  natural  part — those  shouts,  they  must  be  cries  of 
victory !" 

"They  are,  Hueman,  but  not  the  Toltec  exultant  cry. 
Oh,  look  yonder !  Upon  the  temple  roof  and  also  upon 
the  palace  balconies,  stand  crowds  of  screaming  warriors. 
Oh,  where  is  dear  Topiltzin?  Do  you  think  that  the 
enemy  will  come  here,  Hueman  ?  Oh,  look !  look !  They 
are  coming  now ;  where  shall  we  go,  Hueman  ?  See,  they 
are  climbing  this  stairway.  Topiltzin!  Topiltzin!  Oh, 
I  am  so  happy  that  you  have  come !  Why  do  you  bring 
the  queen  here;  has  she  fainted?  Where  is  our  king?" 

"He  is  here,  I  now  am  king  over  all  that  remains  of  the 
Toltec  nation.  Here  Ezcolotl,  take  the  child;  in  all  of  that 
maddening  sea  of  furious  demons  he  never  raised  one 
whimpering  cry.  Hueman,  come  with  me  if  you  can; 
I  wish  to  bear  my  precious  burden  to  a  place  of  rest. 
Huemac  is  waiting  below,  and  my  men  will  start  at  once, 
for  the  security  of  the  cavern  where  the  stores  are  hidden. 
Take  good  care  of  the  child,  Ezcolotl,  he  is  a  brave  little 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  133 

fellow  and  worthy  of  his  noble  mother — go,  follow  the 
priest  Huemac!" 

"Dear  Topiltzin,  may  I  not  aid  you  in  reviving  the 
queen  ?  See,  here  is  water." 

"  She  has  no  need  of  that,  Ezcolotl,  the  Supreme  Deity 
has  revived  her  gentle  spirit  beyond  the  stars  in  the  bliss- 
ful realm  of  the  sun." 

"Oh,  no,  she  is  not  dead,  Topiltzin !    She  is  not  dead !" 

"  She  lives,  Hueman,  in  the  glorious  after-life;  she  is 
mine  now,  my  angel." 

"Oh,  do  look,  Hueman;  see,  he  too  is  badly  wounded! 
See  those  cruel  stabs!  See  those  pools  of  blood!  They 
are  forming  at  his  feet!  Oh,  Topiltzin,  my  love,  my 
love!" 

"Go,  Ezcolotl,  take  the  brave  young  prince  and  guard 
him  well.  I  go  to  lay  me  down  within  the  sepulchre 
which  is  prepared  to  receive  our  dead.  Farewell,  make 
haste !  Hueman,  we  must  descend  at  once ;  my  strength 
is  fast  failing  me." 

"No,  no,  do  come  with  us,  Topiltzin,  and  bring 
Hueman.  Oh,  do  leave  this  dangerous  place  where  the 
enemy  may  follow  us  at  any  moment." 

"I  can  go  no  further,  I  am  wounded  unto  death;  go, 
woman,  go,  you  will  surely  be  pursued  if  you  hesitate 
longer,  farewell!" 

"Farewell,  my  darling;  oh,  my  lost,  lost  love,  fare- 
well !" 

"Lead  on,  Hueman,  I  am  very  weak  and  faint,  my 
strength  can  barely  sustain  me  to  our  haven  of  rest." 

As  we  staggered  down  the  stairs  my  poor  Topiltzin  re- 
fused to  allow  me  to  aid  him,  and  when  we  entered  the 
treasure  house  he  sank  down  with  his  burden  upon  a 
luxuriant  couch  of  fur  and  I  said  to  him :  "Topiltzin,  I 
love  to  feast  mine  eyes  upon  that  flower-like  face;  how 


134  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

beautiful  she  is,  so  calm,  so  still;  no  wave  of  life  can 
ever  leap  those  pulses  now;  her  glorious  eyes  awake  to 
heavenly  tones  and  angels  press  those  curving  lips.  Now 
let  me  strive  to  bathe  your  dreadful  wounds." 

"It  were  useless,  dear  Hueman,  they  cut  me  deep,  and 
I  shall  linger  here  beside  my  love  and  sleep  forever,  while 
our  spirits  are  united  in  the  sun.  Come  close  beside 
us,  dear  Hueman,  I  fear  that  you  too  are  wounded  unto 
death." 

"Yes,  dear  Topiltzin,  but  had  this  grave  wound  never 
been  inflicted  I  could  not  have  survived  my  nation's  fall; 
my  will  shall  hold  my  strength  together  until  my  work  is 
done."  j 

"Come,  let  me  take  your  hand,  and  I  will  try  to  tell  you 
all  that  happened  at  the  fall  of  Tollantzingo.    We  flank- 
ed them  desperately  and  mowed  them  down  outside  the 
gates  and  strove  to  beat  them  back; 'but  there  were  four, 
united  nations  against  one!     They  broke  the  walls  be-j 
yond  the  gates  with  battering  rams  and  surrounded  thej 
imperial  guards  who  in  their  desperation  flung  wide  thej 
gates  as  I  had  signaled  them  to  do,  and  I  rushed  in  with ' 
my  men  to  aid  them.    A  shriek  rang  forth  that  the  king 
was  slain,  and  his  men  fell  back  demoralized.     I  rallied 
them,  and  we  fought  inch  by  inch,  striving  to  keep  them 
from  the  palace,  and  the  entrance  to  the  golden  garden 
of  the  sun-god,  but  they  demolished  the  walls.  They  were 
awed  for  a  moment  at  the  majestic  scene,  and  at  faithful 
old  Zantzintl,  who  stood  with  one  hand  pointing  signifi- 
cantly toward  the  heavens  and    the    other    toward    the 
beautiful  statute  of  our  Savior;  and  it  seemed  for  a  mo- 
ment that  victory  would  be  ours  through  their  super- 
stitious fears,  but  the  spell  was  broken  by  the  sound  of 
battering  rams  against  the  palace  doors  which  yielded. 
Then  they  swarmed  within. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  135 

Brave  Papantzin  and  his  trusty  band  circled  about  the 
queen  and  her  child  to  shield  and  save  them — I  saw  a 
deadly  stroke  leveled  at  Papantzin,  when  brave  Pochotl 
sprang  between  the  assailant  and  his  chieftain  and  was 
felled  to  earth — again  they  charged  on  Papantzin,  who 
leveled  blow  after  blow  until  I  fought  my  way  near 
enough  to  seize  the  queen,  who  clasped  her  babe  close  to 
her  sheltering  breast  while  my  men  covered  our  retreat 
just  as  I  saw  her  devoted  father  fall  beneath  their  fearful, 
savage  onslaught.  No  word  was  said,  but  on  his  face 
there  shone  a  holy  calm  as  his  dying  eyes  were  raised  to 
hers  and  mine. 

We  cleared  the  gates  and  dashed  around  the  palace 
walls  where  some  of  my  braves  secured  a  canoe  to  cross 
the  moat. 

Just  once  she  raised  her  deathly  face  to  mine  and  whis- 
pered :  "My  Topiltzin — the  after-life,"  then  a  cruel  shiver 
racked  her  form,  and  I  clasped  her  closer  to  my  aching 
heart  and  pressed  my  lips  to  hers  and  she  was  dead!  I 
scarcely  knew  when  my  lamenting  warriors  drew  the 
piercing  arrows  from  my  mortal  wounds. 

I  am  tired  now,  Hueman,  I  wish  to  go  to  sleep  beside 
my  love — good-night — Hueman,  good-night."  *  *  * 

Yes,  they  are  sleeping,  my  lumbering  gait  and  long 
drawn  sighs  cannot  arouse  them  now. 

The  Toltec  race  no  longer  is  a  nation,  but  laurels  of 
unfading  fame  shall  tell  how  we  have  lived  and  died. 
Adown  the  mighty  strides  of  time  conjecturing  tongues 
may  hint  of  buried  treasures,  but  to  him  alone  in  whose 
veins  courses  the  blood  of  the  royal  line  of  Toltecs,  will 
the  secret  be  revealed.  The  son  of  this  sweetly  sleeping 
Xochitl  draws  from  that  parent's  side  a  strain  of  true 
royal  blood — to  him  perhaps  the  secret  may  be  reveal- 
ed. *  *  * 


136  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

Oh,  Thou  Almighty  Supreme  Deity,  have  I  now  earn- 
ed the  blessed  right  to  tread  the  path  to  the  Sun  ?  Have 
I  raised  the  standard  of  my  being  beyond  the  cruel  limit 
of  being  born  again  ?  Oh,  I  would  that  my  thoughts  had 
grown  so  pure  that  they  might  reach  to  God,  and  then 
I  need  no  longer  fear  that  I  be  born  again.  *  *  * 

I  hear  soft,  low  music  now,  methinks  an  Angel  form 
has  wafted  perfumed  billows  across  my  peaceful  brow — 
come  closer  love — oh,  how  beautiful  you  are — give  me 
your  little  hand  once  more  and  lead  me  on.  *  *  * 

It  is  sweetly  strange  and  gratifying  that  I  no  longer 
feel  the  stroke  of  age,  and  as  I  pen  these  lines  a  flood  of 
holy  light  illumines  every  recess  of  this  treasure-house 

and  a  sweet,  well-known  voice  whispers  "Come."     *     * 
*     *     *     * 


PART  II. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  great  high  priest  Humac,  was  appointed  leader 
of  the  Toltecs  and  he  advised  them  to  secure  all  of  the 
provisions  which  it  was  possible  for  them  to  remove,  and 
they  journeyed  to  a  place  far  distant  from  the  enemy 
which  was  considered  suitable  for  a  halting  place  and  was 
named  Xaltocan. 

Among  those  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  make  their 
escape  was  Xinhtlatzin,  who  had  been  one  of  the  singers 
of  the  temple,  and  was  the  sweetheart  of  the  illfated  noble 
Pochotl,  and  her  mother,  who  evinced  a  deep  and  tender 
devotion  toward  the  little  prince  Meconetzin,  of  whom 
even  careless  Ezcolotl  had  become  exceedingly  fond. 

Their  next  halting  place  was  Coatlyapan,  where  the 
attention  of  the  followers  of  the  faith  of  Tecpantcaltzin 
was  called  to  the  fact  that  three  large  and  shaggy  animals 
were  following  them;  they  kept  a  certain  distance  from 
the  refugees  at  all  times,  which  increased  their  supersti- 
tious fears  and  they  solemnly  declared  that  the  animals 
possessed  the  spirits  of  Tecpantcaltzin  and  his  two  broth- 
ers, Cauhtli  and  Maxtlatzin. 

The  liberal  minded  band  of  Toltecs  who  followed  the 
broad  and  noble  teachings  of  the  prophet  priest  Hueman, 
saw  that  the  presence  of  these  animals  boded  no  good  to 
their  leader,  and  a  slight  estrangement  arose  which  was 
soon  provoked  into  a  hostile  demonstration,  which  threat-* 
ened  to  erupt  at  any  moment. 

[137] 


138  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

Huemac  urged  them  onward  at  all  possible  speed,  hop- 
ing in  this  manner  to  avoid  further  trouble ;  but  many  re- 
monstrated at  the  rapid  gait,  as  there  were  many  among 
them  who  were  wounded,  also  some  very  old  and  very 
young  people;  when  they  reached  Huehuecauauhtillin  he 
granted  them  a  longer  season  of  rest,  but  the  mutinous 
feeling  still  pervaded  the  two  factions  and  Huemac  be- 
came very  despondant  in  consequence  of  these  difficulties. 

Their  next  move  was  westward  at  Atzcapotzalco  and 
there  they  remained  for  a  short  time,  when  they  again 
took  up  the  line  of  march  toward  Tetlilicuan,  where  they 
left  the  wounded  and  worn-out  followers  who  were  un- 
able to  proceed  further. 

Huemac  in  a  fit  of  despondancy  and  grief  advised  them 
to  choose  another  leader,  as  the  disease  of  ingratitude 
become  epidemic  among  them.  Nouhyotl,  who  had  been 
a  commander  in  the  army  of  Topiltzin,  was  chosen  as 
leader ;  he  had  always  been  a  rival  of  Pochotl,  and  he  lost 
no  opportunity  to  make  love-songs  to  unhappy  Xinhtalat- 
zin,  whose  grief  for  her  fallen  hero  seemed  to  increase 
with  the  difficulties  which  they  encountered  in  their  ted- 
ious and  hurried  flight. 

Nouhyotl  by  his  rare  tact  and  diplomacy  was  a  general 
favorite  among  both  factions  and  his  coronation  took 
place  at  Tetlilicuan. 

The  despondancy  of  Huemac  increased  from  day  to 
day,  and  he  often  expressed  deep  regret  that  he  had  ever 
undertaken  the  long  march  when  he  saw  with  what  eager 
desire  his  followers  accepted  his  resignation  and  also  the 
pride  which  they  evinced  in  obeying  their  newly  made 
king. 

It  was  to  sorrowing  Xinhtlatzin  and  her  mother  that 
heart-broken  Huemac  poured  forth  his  grief  and  disap- 
pointment. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  139 

Ezcolotl,  by  virtue  of  the  great  importance  attached  to 
her  commission  as  guardian  and  nurse  to  the  thriving 
young  prince  Meconetzin,  had  endeavored  to  awaken  an 
interest  in  the  bosom  of  Nouhyotl  from  the  moment  they 
had  met  upon  the  march;  but  all  of  her  arts  and  wiles 
proved  unavailing,  and  she  was  chagrined  at  the  eager 
longing  glances  he  showered  upon  graceful  Xinhtlatzin, 
whose  utter  disregard  alone  saved  her  from  the  hatred  of 
scheming  Ezcolotl. 

At  the  close  of  a  beautiful  day  a  few  weeks  after  the 
coronation  took  place,  and  at  the  precise  moment  when 
poor  old  Huemac  was  making  known  to  the  two  ladies 
his  determination  to  return  to  his  native  land  to  breathe 
his  last  earthly  wish  or  die  in  the  attempt,  Ezcolotl  forc- 
ed her  way  into  their  midst  exclaiming: 

"Here,  take  the  young  prince  Meconetzin  and  care  for 
him,  as  you  fear  the  power  and  prophesies  of  the  wizard 
of  Tollantzingo,  for  in  one  short  hour  I  shall  be  dead; 
and  you  Xinhtlatzin,  will  then  have  no  rival  in  the  affec- 
tion of  the  newly  made  king:  as  I  sat  me  down  a  few 
moments  ago  in  the  shadow  of  a  wild-rose  tree,  weeping 
bitterly  because  I  have  no  friends,  not  one,  and  as  I  cast 
my  eyes  upon  the  ground,  I  beheld  a  sparkling  gem  at  my 
feet  which  I  seized  and  carried  to  the  king,  and  he  pro- 
nounced it  to  be  a  genuine  Chalchihuitl,  then  I  said  des- 
perately that  I  was  led  to  it  by  the  spirit  of  my  dear  Top- 
iltzin,  who  always  loved  me  dearly  and  now  grieves  to 
see  me  thus  unhappy,  and  I  immediately  swallowed  the 
gem  to  relieve  me  of  my  lonely  life ;  now  I  shall  certainly 
die  shortly  and  I  implore  these  good  ladies  to  take  good 
care  of  little  Meconetzin,  whom  I  love  dearly,  for  he 
alone  on  this  earth  cares  for  me  just  a  little.  Good  Hue- 
mac,  how  soon  may  I  expect  to  be  transported  to  the  sun 
to  join  my  darling  Topiltzin?" 


I4O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"I  am  no  prophet,  but  I  am  certain  that  it  will  take  a 
larger  gem  than  the  Chalchihuitl  to  shut  out  your  voluble 
existance." 

"Will  it  not  really  kill  me?" 

"No,  but  it  may  be  the  means  of  curing  you  of  some  of 
your  foolishness,  or  perhaps  will  take  root  in  you  and 
create  some  hybrid  creature  upon  which  you  may  be  able 
to  lavish  your  abundant  affection;  so  the  very  best  use 
that  you  can  make  of  your  time  is  to  follow  the  instruc- 
tions which  have  been  given  you  to  take  good  care  of  the 
son  of  maguey,  who  will  in  time  reward  you  for  your 
vigilance."  She  turned  away  abashed  and  hesitating,  and 
he  turned  to  his  sympathizing  friends  exclaiming: 

"My  sorrow  has  completely  hemmed  me  in,  I  have  no 
pleasure  in  my  existance  away  from  my  native  land,  it  is 
no  use  in  trying  to  urge  me  to  take  up  the  line  of  march 
further  away  from  the  scenes  of  my  youth  which  I  yearn 
to  again  behold,  although  they  are  now  in  the  possession 
of  savages.  I  shall  return  to  die  upon  the  summit  of 
Chapultepec,  which  overlooks  my  native  vale  and  in 
sight  of  the  temple  wherein  I  have  worshipped  since  my 
infancy,  unless  I  perish  in  the  attempt.  Adieu,  dear 
friends,  I  will  admit  to  you  that  the  presence  of  those 
shaggy  animals  that  follow  us  has  caused  me  deep  con- 
cern. Of  course,  it  is  much  better  for  our  people  to  have 
a  young  and  gallant  king  to  rule  them  than  an  old  and  de- 
crepid  one  like — like  me.  Farewell." 

The  ladies  were  too  kind-hearted  to  see  the  home-sick 
old  priest  start  out  alone  upon  his  self-imposed  mission, 
and  Xinhtlatzin  filled  the  breast  of  the  newly-made  king 
with  pleasure  by  making  known  to  him  her  first  request, 
which  was  that  he  should  send  guards  to  accompany  the 
aged  priest  upon  his  journey,  as  there  was  great  danger 
that  he  might  perish  miserably  by  the  way-side.  The  re- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  141 

quest  was  granted,  and  in  order  to  avoid  any  protest  on 
the  part  of  the  wanderer  they  were  instructed  to  follow 
him  at  a  safe  distance  and  only  make  their  presence 
known  in  case  of  an  absolute  necessity. 

In  the  course  of  several  moons  they  returned  and  relat- 
ed the  following  incidents  in  the  journey  of  Huemac. 
After  many  days  and  weeks  of  travel,  subsisting  upon 
herbs,  roots,  berries  and  fruit  of  the  cactus,  worn  and 
emaciated,  he  gazed  upon  his  native  vale  of  Tollantzingo. 
He  climbed  the  hill  of  Chapultepec  and  seated  himself 
under  the  shadow  of  a  towering  cedar  tree,  utterly  in- 
different to  his  danger;  his  faded  eyes  lighted  up  with 
tender  memories  as  they  lingered  upon  the  familiar 
scenes. 

At  last  the  flood-gates  of  his  emotions  were  released 
by  the  torrent  which  he  could  not  suppress,  until  he  fell 
to  the  earth  in  a  paroxysm  of  grief  that  shivered  his  aged 
form  like  a  reed  in  a  merciless  gale. 

The  sun  sank  pityingly  behind  the  mountains  and  the 
stars  lifted  back  the  clouds  which  had  rifted  the  heavens 
and  shone  upon  the  prostrate  form  of  the  pilgrim ;  a  gen- 
tle breeze  wafted  through  the  massive  branches  and  lift- 
ed the  silvered  hair  from  off  his  brow,  cool  and  caressing- 
ly; at  last  he  staggered  to  his  feet  and  a  low,  mournful 
wail  fell  from  his  trembling  lips : 

No  one  to  greet  me,  no  loved  one  to  meet  me; 
A  stranger,  I  am  come  to  the  land  of  my  birth 

O'er  burdened  with  sorrow,  no  hope  for  the  morrow; 
Oh  receive  me,  Great  Spirit,  I  am  tired  of  earth. 

Then  he  slowly  uncoiled  a  rope  of  ixtle  which  he  had 
carried  in  his  bosom  and  he  laborously  climbed  the  giant 
tree  and  secured  one  end  of  the  rope  about  a  sturdy  limb 


I42  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

and  the  other  end  about  his  wrinkled  throat ;  then  clasp- 
ing his  hands  together,  he  made  one  last  fervent  appeal  to 
be  forgiven  for  ushering  himself  unbidden  into  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Supreme  Deity,  then  slid  from  off  the  limb 
into  eternal  space.  *  *  * 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  143 


CHAPTER  XI. 

TWENTY  years  have  elapsed  since  the  memorable  fall 
of  Tollantzingo,  and  the  band  of  Toltecs  live  peacefully 
under  the  excellent  rule  of  king  Nouhyotl  and  his  gentle 
queen  Xinhtlatzin.  They  have  but  one  surviving  child,  a 
handsome  princess  whom  they  have  named  Centeotl,  now 
eighteen  years  of  age. 

Prince  Meconetzin  had  become  a  power  in  the  kingdom 
and  was  revered  by  the  Toltecs,  for  he  inheritated  all  of 
the  grace  and  beauty  which  had  proved  so  fatally  fascin- 
ating to  his  gentle  mother,  and  also  her  refined  nature, 
coupled  with  a  robust,  manly  figure. 

In  the  presence  of  the  fair  young  princess,  wEose  fea- 
tures always  brightened  at  his  coming,  he  unconsciously 
brought  every  powerful  element  of  his  sensitive  nature  to 
bear  upon  the  one  great  wish  of  his  longing  heart,  which 
yearned  to  be  always  near  her  by  the  sacred  right  which 
her  own  loving  heart  must  give. 

Ezcolotl  became  the  mother  of  a  son,  the  result  she  said 
of  her  having  swallowed  the  chalchihuitl,  which  she  had 
taken  with  suicidal  intent;  she  had  named  him  Topiltzin, 
and  as  the  years  rolled  by  she  became  very  ambitious  for 
his  future  welfare,  and  incited  in  his  bosom  a  feeling  of 
jealousy  and  spirit  of  rivalry  toward  Meconetzin,  hoping 
thus  to  suppress  in  a  measure  his  ever  increasing  popular- 
ity. Through  his  daring  skill  as  a  warrior  he  had  won 
the  enviable  rank  of  general,  and  commanded  the  whole 


144  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

army  aside  from  the  imperial  guards,  over  whom  Mec- 
onetzin  ruled.  It  was  the  one  wish  in  the  heart  of  Ezcol- 
otl  that  her  son  should  gain  the  love  of  the  sweet  princess 
Centeotl,  and  she  daily  conjured  subtle  means  of  bring- 
ing disgrace  upon  the  guileless  son  of  maquey,  but  he  was 
guided  away  from  every  deep-laid  snare  as  if  by  magic, 
or  the  aid  of  unseen  hands. 

Topiltzin  was  every  inch  a  chieftain  and  a  fearless, 
diplomatic  commander,  who  embraced  every  opportunity 
to  boast  of  his  unique  parentage,  it  being  a  distinction  ac- 
corded to  no  other  Toltec.  He  had  a  powerful  and  com- 
manding figure,  and  excelled  in  all  of  their  athletic  sports 
and  was  out-rivaled  by  no  one  as  a  marksman ;  he  danced 
the  favorite  Areyto  gracefully  while  thrilling  the  dulcet- 
toned  teponaztlL 

Princess  Centeotl  was  not  wholly  indifferent  to  his  pas- 
sion, which  he  exhibited  in  such  a  spirit  of  daring  that  it 
quite  overwhelmed  her  with  mingled  fear  and  pleasure. 

The  wooing  of  Meconetzin  was  of  such  a  delicate,  pa- 
tient and  enduring  character  that  he  entwined  himself 
firmly  about  her  heart  before  she  was  aware  of  his  gentle 
power ;  into  his  large,  dark,  expressive  eyes  came  a  divine 
wave  of  worship,  soothing  to  her  quickened  senses  which 
filled  her  being  with  rapture  and  peace. 

An  escaped  Toltec,  who  had  been  a  slave  to  the  Chichi- 
mecas  since  the  fall  of  Tollantzingo,  had  traced  the 
course  taken  by  the  Toltecs  in  their  flight  and  immediately 
made  his  way  to  the  king  and  informed  him  that  he  had 
found  near  the  gates  of  the  besieged  city — while  assisting 
in  the  removal  of  the  dead — a  massive  and  peculiar  key , 
which  article  he  managed  to  conceal  about  his  person  un- 
til the  hour  should  present  itself  when  he  might  hope  to 
escape  and  join  the  remnant  of  his  race.  When  that  covet- 
ed hour  arrived  and  he  fled,  he  was  recaptured,  stripped 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  145 

and  beaten  until  life  was  nearly  extinct,  and  it  was  then 
that  the  key  was  found  and  taken  from  him.  He  tried  by 
every  plausible  means  to  learn  what  had  been  done  with 
it,  as  he  believed  that  it  secured  the  vault  wherein  Tec- 
pantcaltzin,  Cauhtli  and  Maxtlatzin  had  deposited  the 
massive  bars  of  gold  and  silver  and  also  the  valuable  plate 
and  enormous  quantity  of  jewels  belonging  to  his  king- 
dom. 

Nouhyotl  had  always  cherished  a  secret  ambition  to  be 
instrumental  in  re-establishing  the  Toltec  kingdom  in 
its  native  land.  He  had  been  successful  in  negotiating 
with  several  nations  who  inhabited  the  surrounding  coun- 
try and  signified  their  willingness  to  aid  him,  and  they 
were  initiated  by  the  Toltecs  into  various  arts  and  pur- 
suits, and  thus  during  the  twenty  years  which  had  inter- 
vened the  subjects  of  Nouhyotl  became  quite  a  formid- 
able host. 

He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  narrative  of  the  fugi- 
tive and  gratified  to  learn  that  the  treasures  of  the  Tol- 
tecs had  never  been  discovered  by  the  Chichimecas,  al- 
though many  heroic  slaves  were  tortured  to  death  in 
order  to  try  to  wrench  the  secret  from  them;  this  fate 
he,  too,  would  have  met  but  for  his  ingenuity  in  preying 
upon  the  superstitious  fears  of  the  ignorant  conquerors 
by  affecting  idiocy  after  the  brutal  beating  to  which  he 
had  been  subjected. 

They  had  searched  every  portion  of  Tollantzingo  for 
the  lock  which  the  strange  key  should  open,  but  failed  to 
discover  it. 

After  listening  attentively  to  the  slave's  narrative,  the 
king  summoned  Ezcolotl,  who  had  always  been  volubly 
proud  of  her  knowledge  of  the  transactions  at  the  palace 
during  the  reign  of  the  ill-fated  Tecpantcaltzin.  She  as- 
sured the  king  that  the  treasures  were  carried  to  Palpan 


146  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

heights  and  concealed  therein  by  the  king  and  his  two 
brothers,  aided  by  a  band  of  servants  who  were  heavily 
laden,  and  had  remained  a  certain  length  of  time  before 
the  sounding  of  the  war-gong  at  the  fall  of  Tollantzingo. 

Thus  assured,  Nouhyotl  thought  that  if  he  could  gain 
possession  of  the  key  by  strategy  or  otherwise,  and  then 
assure  the  powerful  Culhuacas  that  the  treasures  of  the 
Tecpantcaltzin  kingdom  were  intact  and  thereby  induce 
them  to  ally  their  hosts  with  his,  they  might  have  hopes 
of  conquering  the  Chichimecas,  who  had  compelled  all  of 
the  nations  who  joined  with  them  in  their  conquest  of  the 
Toltecs  to  acknowledge  them  as  the  supreme  rulers  of 
Tollan,  which  name  they  changed  to  the  Chichimeca  king- 
dom. 

They  ignored  every  promise  made  to  the  other  powers 
by  which  they  had  induced  them  to  join  in  the  invasion, 
claiming  in  extenuation  that  they  were  unable  to  discover 
the  hiding  place  of  the  Toltec  treasures  and  there  was 
consequently  nothing  to  divide. 

Nouhyotl  had  learned  that  the  Culhuacas  longed  to 
free  themselves  from  the  enormous  tributes  imposed  up- 
on them  by  the  greedy  and  unprincipled  Chichimecas. 

After  mature  deliberation  he  decided  upon  an  immedi- 
ate course  of  action,  and  he  summoned  Meconetzin  and 
Topiltzin  to  a  private  audience  with  him,  and  carefully 
laid  all  of  his  plans  before  them  and  entrusted  them  with 
the  important  and  dangerous  commission  of  obtaining 
possession  of  the  coveted  key. 

Without  consulting  the  queen  or  deliberating  upon  the 
rashness  of  his  plan,  he  promised  the  young  rivals  that 
he  who  became  successful  in  the  venture  should  have 
the  fair  princess  Centeotl  for  his  bride. 

Bounding  homeward,  with  a  radiant  countenace  Topil- 
tzin imparted  the  joyful  news  to  attentive  Ezcolotl,  who 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  147 

at  once  set  about  to  devise  ways  and  means  for  the  suc- 
cess of  her  dearest  wish  and  that  of  her  idolized  son. 

To  the  refined  spirit  of  Meconetzin  this  task  was  in- 
deed a  repugnant  one ;  not  on  account  of  the  danger  and 
probable  defeat  to  be  incurred,  but  the  spirit  of  barter  in 
the  terms  of  the  decree  were  utterly  antagonistic  to  his 
proud  and  noble  nature. 

That  he  would  willingly  lay  down  his  life  in  the  de- 
fense of  his  people  and  aid  them  to  recover  their  lost  king- 
dom there  was  no  question ;  but  to  be  sent  upon  this  mis- 
sion fraught  with  every  evil  and  pledged  with  such  a 
divine  reward  in  common  with  the  son  of  plebian  Ezcol- 
otl  galled  every  drop  of  royal  blood  that  surged  in  his 
manly  breast,  and  he  could  not  repel  a  feeling  of  scorn 
toward  the  king  for  the  injustice  he  was  planning  against 
the  fair  young  princess,  who  would  thus  be  denied  any 
choice  of  her  heart's  wishes. 

Twelve  moons  was  the  limit  of  time  given  them  to  ac- 
complish the  mission  and  ten  trusty  braves  were  allowed 
to  each.  Preparations  were  at  once  begun  for  their 
speedy  departure,  and  they  were  repeatedly  commanded 
by  the  king  to  make  all  of  the  advances  possible  toward 
the  intelligent  Culhuacas,  through  whose  vast  domain  a 
great  portion  of  their  hazardous  journey  must  be  made. 

A  grand  ball  was  given  at  the  palace  in  honor  of  their 
departure  on  the  evening  preceeding  their  march,  and 
each  young  chieftain  swayed  in  graceful  rhythm  to  the 
wierd  music  brought  forth  by  the  instruments  in  their 
gesticulating  hands.  Centeotl,  who  was  seated  upon  the 
rostrum  occupied  by  the  king  and  queen,  beheld  the 
lively  scene  witn  glowing  admiration. 

The  spirit  of  reckless  daring  so  characteristic  of  To- 
piltzin  was  vividly  portrayed  as  he  whirled,  curved  and 
glided  in  the  dance,  and  his  brilliant  eyes  were  marked 


148  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

with  a  gleam  of  possession  in  their  fearless  depths  as 
they  rested  upon  charming  Centeotl;  but  a  frown  gath- 
ered upon  his  expansive  brow,  which  pulled  his 
heavy  eyebrows  together,  giving  his  well-set  features  a 
forbidding  appearance,  as  he  saw  her  turn  shivering 
away  from  his  impassioned  gaze  and  seek  the  answering 
smile  which  glorified  the  handsome  features  of  graceful 
Meconetzin;  and  they  seemed  utterly  oblivious  to  their 
surroundings  and  had  at  one  sweet  bound  entered  the 
realms  of  love's  paradise:  a  holy  calm  settled  upon  the 
eloquent  features  of  the  dignified  prince  and  a  thrilling 
rapture  of  peace  and  security  filled  the  heart  of  the  blush- 
ing princess  with  sacred  joy. 

That  night  when  Meconetzin  sought  his  couch  he  was 
visited  by  a  most  remarkable  dream  or  vision.  A  beautiful 
form  floated  gently  down  beside  him  with  a  soft  rustle  of 
her  perfumed  snowy  garments  and  gazed  lovingly  into 
his  wondering  eyes  exclaiming:  "Meconetzin,  son  of 
maguey,  I  am  your  mother  Xochitl,  the  daughter  of  Pa- 
pantzin,  and  all  through  your  childhood  years  the  good 
prophet  Hueman  and  I  have  kept  watch  over  you,  guid- 
ing your  feet  away  from  every  danger  and  inspiring  you 
with  courage  and  patience;  now  I  have  come  to  warn 
you  against  the  wiles  and  snares  which  will  be  placed  in 
your  path  by  your  rival  Topiltzin  and  his  designing  moth- 
er Ezcolotl.  Beware  of  them!  they  are  your  enemies  in 
thought  and  deed.  The  mission  assigned  to  you  is  a 
most  dangerous  one — but  the  key,  which  the  king  has 
such  a  craving  to  possess,  is  not  the  one  which  unlocks 
the  door  leading  to  the  hidden  wealth  of  the  Tecpantcalt- 
zin  kingdom  but  the  fabulous  treasure  of  the  true  and 
loyal  Toltecs,  which  has  been  accumulating  many  years 
previous  to  and  centuries  since  the  reign  of  the  Toltec 
Savior,  the  immortal  Quetzalcoahtl,  and  was  lost  at  the 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  149 

fall  of  Tollantzingo  by  the  true  heir  of  the  Toltec  throne, 
general  Topiltzin,  who  perished  from  wounds  received 
upon  that  fatal  field.  Within  this  key — which  is  really  a 
misleading  device — is  hidden  a  tiny  spring  which  you 
will  find  in  the  socket,  upon  which  a  firm  pressure  will 
reveal  a  parchment  which  you  must  possess  and  peruse  at 
all  hazards,  for  it  will  tell  you  how  to  reach  the  treasures 
which  you  may  perhaps  be  able  to  remove  and  appropri- 
ate to  the  well-being  and  advancement  of  the  true  and 
loyal  Toltecs.  The  wealth  of  the  Tecpantcaltzin  king- 
dom is  hidden  at  Palpan  heights,  at  which  place  you  must 
watch  for  the  sunlight  to  flood  the  place,  when  a  message 
will  be  revealed  to  you  which  is  inscribed  therein  upon 
the  wall,  explaining  the  exact  location  of  that  wealth. 
This  is  very  insignificant  in  comparison  to  the  wealth 
which  the  bronze  key  will  reveal  to  you.  The  bit  of 
parchment  describes  the  path  leading  to  the  underground 
palace  of  solid  onyx  built  over  the  most  prolific  mine  ever 
discovered  by  our  people,  and  it  is  also  the  sepulchre  of 
my  mortal  body  and  that  of  Hueman,  the  prophet  of  Tol- 
lantzingo and  general  Topiltzin,  his  nearest  kin. 

"The  cavern  is  guarded  by  the  constant  vigilance  of 
those  shaggy  monsters,  which  will  never  molest  you. 
Within  the  cavern  grows  a  most  beautiful  and  odorifer- 
ous plant  which  is  constantly  in  leaf  and  blossom.  Gather 
it  and  always  keep  it  stored  about  you,  for  it 
is  an  antidote  for  the  deadly  Toloache  and  every  other 
poison  known  to  these  people;  flee  to  the  prophet's  cav- 
ern— as  it  is  called — if  you  are  pursued,  for  not  one  of 
those  superstitious  people  will  dare  to  follow  you  there; 
you  cannot  mistake  the  place,  for  it  is  directly  opposite 
Palpan  heights  and  is  feared  and  shunned  by  all. 

"Remember  Meconetzin,  that  your  mother  will  always 
guard  you  as  only  spirits  can,  and  you  must  obey  the 


I5O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

gentle  intuition  of  the  promptings  of  your  soul,  for  in 
this  manner  only  may  I  communicate  with  you;  the 
mighty  force  which  hems  you  in,  cannot  be  destroyed  by 
mortal  hands — therefore  do  not  weaken  it  by  impatience 
or  worry,  and  when  clouds  obscure  the  brightness  of 
heaven  be  not  cast  down,  but  renew  your  faith,  for  it  is 
the  gateway  to  glory,  and  now  adieu — you  shall  feel  my 
presence  near  you  always."  With  a  lingering  kiss  which 
thrilled  him  with  ecstacy,  she  gathered  up  the  billowy 
folds  of  her  fleecy  robe  in  one  soft,  dimpled  hand  and 
sailed  noiselessly  aloft  the  nebulous  realms  of  that  beau- 
tiful night. 

Meconetzin  aroused  himself  from  the  spell  that  al- 
lured him  and  felt  that  he  had  been  conscious  of  all  that 
transpired,  and  he  carefully  reviewed  each  word  and  im- 
pressed his  grasping  mind  with  every  detail,  and  he  knew 
that  it  was  not  all  a  dream. 

The  first  gleam  of  the  following  rosy  morning  was  the 
appointed  hour  set  by  the  king  to  receive  them  and  give 
them  their  final  instructions,  and  also  to  say  adieu  to  the 
one  being  whom  they  both  loved. 

Fear  smote  the  heart  of  the  princess  when  she  encoun- 
tered the  passionate,  masterful  gaze  of  Topiltzin,  as  he 
wrung  her  hand  at  parting  and  riveted  her  frightened 
eyes  to  his  by  that  powerful  magnetism  which  seemed  to 
imprison  her  for  a  moment  under  the  basilisk  influence 
of  his  searching  eyes. 

How  infinitely  different  was  the  sensation  which  she 
experienced  when  Meconetzin's  shapely,  helpful  hands 
gave  hers  a  tender  pressure,  as  his  dark  eyes  tear-laden, 
met  hers  and  his  curved  lips  blanched  and  trembled  as  he 
attempted  to  murmur  her  name  and  turned  abruptly 
away  to  hide  the  anguish  which  the  parting  aroused  in 
his  soul. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  I  5  t 

The  little  band  moved  quietly  out  of  the  city  and  sped 
swiftly  on  their  way,  just  as  the  windows  of  heaven 
crested  the  purple  heights  of  the  grand  old  mountains, 
and  carefully  lifted  the  filmy  vapor  that  draped  the  flow- 
er-dotted vales  and  cactus-covered  plains  of  dreamy  old 
Tollan.  Upon  the  outskirts  of  the  city  the  prince  was 
astonished  to  see  another  person  join  the  braves  of  To- 
piltzin  and  he  said : 

"I  thought  we  were  entitled  to  but  ten  men  each,  and 
I  see  that  you  are  provided  with  eleven ;  and  why  is  this  ?" 

"If  you  were  not  such  an  inveterate  star-gazing  mortal 
you  would  have  no  occasion  to  ask  such  an  absurd  ques- 
tion— I  have  but  ten  braves — the  eleventh  person  is  my 
heroic  little  mother  in  the  garb  of  a  chieftain;  I  could 
not  dissuade  her  from  this  purpose.  Her  determination 
was  made  known  to  me  at  the  precise  moment  of  my  de- 
parture to  the  palace  and  I  had  no  idea  where  she  would 
join  us  until  now." 

"Of  course  it  is  no  affair  of  mine,  but  I  do  think  that 
the  journey  is  a  hazardous  one  for  a  woman  to  under- 
take. Our  wisest  plan  will  be  to  map  out  the  course 
which  is  best  for  us  to  pursue  while  we  are  here  in  the 
security  of  our  own  domain,  for  we  cannot  hope  to  travel 
unmolested,  and  must  endeavor  to  attract  as  little  atten- 
tion as  possible.  I  think  it  will  be  necessary  for  us  to 
arrange  a  code  of  signals  before  we  venture  further,  for 
although  we  are  both  upon  the  same  mission,  it  were  bet- 
ter for  our  future  safety  to  protect  ourselves  in  this  man- 
ner, which  need  not  conflict  with  our  separate  ideas  in 
regard  to  the  object  of  our  pursuit." 

"Meconetzin,  I  may  as  well  inform  you  right  here  and 
now  that  I  have  no  plans  whatever  to  make  or  share  with 
you ;  the  fair  prize  can  be  awarded  to  but  one,  and  I  pro- 


152  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

pose  that  we  take  our  separate  ways  to  obtain  the  key  in 
order  to  avoid  treachery" 

"Treachery ! !  Topiltzin,  dare  you  for  one  moment 
question  my  integrity?  I  broached  the  subject  in  a  spirit 
of  caution;  there  is  also  but  one  key  for  which  we  en- 
danger our  lives  in  the  hope  of  obtaining,  but  there  are 
thousands  of  untried  means." 

"Very  true  indeed,  and  if  my  life  is  spared  I  shall  try 
each  one  in  turn  until  I  become  the  proud  possessor  of 
that  one  particular  key  and  its  matchless  reward."  He 
glanced  surreptitiously  at  the  stately  Meconetzin  while 
making  the  vain-glorious  speech,  and  felt  a  trifle  discon- 
certed as  he  saw  that  his  mobile  features  relaxed  not  a 
muscle  nor  contracted  the  suspicion  of  a  frown,  and  he 
feared  that  calm  resolution  far  more  than  a  flame  of 
anger. 

Xolotli,  the  Toltec  who  had  escaped  from  his  slavery 
of  twenty  years  duration  was  allowed — by  his  special  re- 
quest— to  guide  Meconetzin  and  his  band,  and  he  evinced 
great  pleasure  in  explaining  to  him  the  facts  regarding 
the  savage  habits  of  the  aggressive  Chichimecas  who, 
previous  to  the  conquest,  had  never  tilled  the  soil  nor 
given  evidence  of  having  any  inventive  genius  other  than 
the  construction  of  a  rude  bear-trap,  a  bird-snare  and 
to  weave  fibres  of  maguey  into  nets  with  which  they 
snared  fishes. 

When  they  became  the  lordly  possessors  of  the  wealth 
and  skill  acquired  by  the  thrifty  Toltecs,  the  many  im- 
portant devices  in  looms  necessary  to  develop  the  choice 
fabrics  prepared  by  them  were  utterly  useless  in  the 
hands  of  the  conquerors;  also  the  instruments  used  by 
the  metal  workers  and  jewelers  which  were  used  to  fash- 
ion delicate  tracery  from  the  pages  of  nature  upon  var- 
ious ornaments  and  in  preparing  the  many  imple- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  153 

ments  necessary  to  the  toil;  it  was  the  consideration  of 
the  vast  knowledge  possessed  by  the  prisoners  which 
prompted  the  conquerors  to  spare  many  lives. 

The  terrible  plague  died  out  and  all  of  the  surviving 
and  unhappy  women  and  children  of  Toltec  blood  were 
distributed  among  the  different  tribes  and  commanded  to 
teach  those  savages  all  of  their  civilized  ways ;  they  were 
anxious  to  imitate  their  illustrous  predecessors  in  every 
possible  manner. 

The  phenomenal  superstition  of  the  Chichimecas  re- 
ceived a  fresh  impetus  when  the  startling  announcement 
was  made  that  an  aged  Toltec  priest  was  found  hanging 
from  a  limb  of  a  tree  upon  the  summit  of  Chapultepec. 
They  considered  it  an  evil  omen  which  would  work  dis- 
aster upon  them  if  they  abused  their  intelligent  captives, 
some  of  whom  were  intrepid  enough  to  assure  them  that 
the  suicide  was  returned  to  them  by  a  message  from  the 
sun,  and  that  it  was  a  token  of  future  vengeance  upon 
their  persecutors. 

The  three  shaggy  monsters  at  the  prophet's  cavern  ad- 
ded lustre  to  their  fears  and  intimidated  many  of  the  cap- 
tives also. 

The  Calhuacas,  who  were  really  an  advanced  nation, 
were  profoundly  impressed  with  the  high  order  of  intel- 
lect possessed  by  the  Toltecs,  and  all  captives  who  suc- 
ceeded in  escaping  from  the  Chichimecas  although  held 
as  prisoners,  were  worshipped  by  them  as  deities  and 
held  positions  next  in  importance  to  the  king. 

When  attentive  Meconetzin  became  aware  of  all  of 
these  things,  his  heart  softened  toward  king  Nouhyotl, 
whom  he  realized  would  sacrifice  all  that  he  controlled  in 
order  to  re-establish  his  beloved  people  in  their  lost  do- 
main. 

The  prince  and  his  band  reached  a  cavern  which  is  un- 


154  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

der  the  hill  of  Chapultepec,  in  safety,  and  they  decided  to 
make  it  their  headquarters,  for  Xolotli  assured  them  that 
no  Chichimeca  was  brave  enough  to  venture  in  the  shad- 
ow of  the  towering  tree  since  the  suicide  of  heart-broken 
Huemac. 

A  captive  gardner  well  known  to  Xolotli,  who  had  been 
permitted  to  continue  his  vocation  for  the  benefit  of  his 
masters,  was  the  one  person  to  whom  Meconetzin  decided 
to  appeal  and  learn,  if  possible,  directly  or  indirectly,  the 
location  of  the  important  trophy. 

With  this  object  in  view,  he  decided  to  make  himself 
known  to  the  gardner  as  soon  as  the  shades  of  night 
grew  dense  enough  to  start  forth,  guided  by  Xolotli. 

He  lingered  for  some  moments  under  the  very  limb 
from  which  the  aged,  home-sick  pilgrim  had  hurled  him- 
self into  eternity.  A  pathetic  smile  hid  the  indignation 
which  entered  the  soul  of  brave  Meconetzin,  that  he 
should  come  to  the  land  of  his  birth  and  be  compelled  to 
act  with  the  stealth  and  cunning  of  a  criminal !  These  con- 
flicting emotions  destroyed  all  thought  of  danger,  as  he 
silently  followed  fleet-footed  Xolotli,  until  he  gave  a 
quick  gesture  of  warning  and  he  halted  at  the  entrance 
to  a  brushwood  corral,  while  his  guide  cautiously  ventur- 
ed to  the  house  wherein  the  gardner  was  peacefully 
sleeping.  He  speedily  returned  and  beckoned  the  prince 
to  follow  him. 

"Thrice  welcome  to  my  humble  abode,  brother  Toltecs, 
all  that  I  have  and  all  tliat  I  am  is  at  your  worthy  dis- 
posal. Xolotli  is  my  life-long  friend,  but  you,  young 
man,  your  countenance  is  new  to  me." 

"I  am  Meconetzin,  son  of  maguey." 

"May  the  Supreme  Deity  protect  you  Prince !  How  dare 
you  venture  here  upon  these  dangerous  grounds?" 

"I  am  come  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  possession  of 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  155 

that  mysterious  key  found  by  Xolotli  upon  the  battle- 
field after  the  fall  of  Tollantzingo,  and  I  thought  there 
might  be  a  possible  chance  of  your  aiding  me  in  the  loca- 
tion of  the  same — it  is  of  no  possible  service  to  the  Chi- 
chimecas,  but  will  be  of  inestimable  value  to  me." 

"Perhaps  Xolotli  has  told  you  that  my  son  is  a  jeweler 
for  the  king,  as  his  inclination  tended  that  way  from  the 
moment  his  eyes  were  first  dazzled  by  the  sight  of  rare 
metals  and  rare  gems,  and  their  beautiful  uses — then  too, 
these  ignorant  people  do  not  care  whether  a  child  fol- 
lows the  vocation  of  his  sire  as  became  our  laws,  and 
thus  I  am  deprived  of  his  companionship;  for  our  jewel- 
er, who  was  most  skillful  under  Tecpantcaltzin's  reign, 
had  no  sons,  and  he  was  badly  wounded  at  that  terrible 
siege  and  found  refuge  here,  and  that  was  the  beginning 
of  a  friendship  between  himself  and  my  son  which  lasted 
to  his  death.  My  poor  wife  was  ill  of  the  plague  at  the 
time  and  I  too  was  unable  through  the  weakness  of  star- 
vation to  assist  at  the  terrible  battle.  Two  moons  have 
passed  since  he  has  visited  me  and  I  am  now  expecting 
him  every  day — he  is  very  popular  in  the  city,  and  will  be 
able  to  learn  the  whereabouts  of  the  key,  if  he  does  not 
already  know." 

"Then  do  me  the  lasting  favor  to  learn  from  him  if 
possible  the  location  of  the  trophy  and  impress  upon  him 
— in  the  name  of  our  brotherhood — the  necessity  of  the 
utmost  secrecy  in  regard  to  the  same.  He  and  yourself 
shall  be  rewarded  handsomely,  and  now  we  will  bid  you 
a  kind  good-night  and  will  take  the  liberty  of  calling  soon 
again." 

"Dear  Prince,  we  ask  no  reward  for  that  which  we 
will  be  only  too  proud  and  glad  to  do  in  your  service  and 
more  if  possible;  everything  must  and  shall  be  done 
quietly,  rest  assured  of  that,  it  is  our  only  safety ;  all  that 


1$  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

we  have  or  may  do  is  at  your  service,  and  my  humble 
abode  I  shall  proudly  offer  you  for  a  shelter  and  gladly 
welcome  you  here  always.  You,  too,  Xolotli — here  is 
always  your  home.  Be  very  discreet  and  careful  here, 
dear  Prince,  you  are  in  danger!  Good  night;  may  the 
Supreme  Deity  watch  over  and  guard  you  from  all  harm, 
oh  Prince  of  the  only  true  faith." 

When  they  again  reached  the  cavern,  they  were  sur- 
prised to  hear  no  sound  of  the  remaining  band.  Again  and 
again  they  gave  the  low,  clear  signal  peculiar  to  their 
fraternity,  but  no  response  was  heard. 

Xolotli  released  some  cucuyos  which  fluttered  about, 
expanding  their  wings  until  they  lighted  up  the  corner 
where  the  provisions  had  been  placed,  and  they  then  saw 
with  dismay  that  not  a  vestige  of  them  remained. 

A  deep  sense  of  dejection  overcame  the  prince  for  a 
moment  as  he  saw  the  indisputable  evidence  of  treachery, 
and  he  turned  to  accost  Xolotli  when  many  strong  hands 
and  arms  were  thrown  about  him  and  the  prince  became 
a  prisoner !  A  gurgling  cry,  more  beast-like  than  human, 
escaped  from  the  lips  of  the  terrified  Xolotli  as  the  Chi- 
chimeca  guards  secured  them  together  and  forced  them 
to  march  on  through  the  cavern,  which  had  an  outlet  by  a 
narrow  path  leading  directly  to  the  city. 

In  this  degrading  manner  the  only  living  heir  to  the 
Toltec  throne  and  Toltec  treasures  was  led  through  the 
very  portals  where  his  father  fell  and  into  the  palace  of 
his  ancestors. 

They  were  secured  against  a  massive  marble  pillar  until 
the  grey  dawn  of  a  new  day  crept  cautiously  into  the 
spacious  apartment  as  if  reluctant  to  reveal  the  forlorn 
countenance  of  troubled  Meconetzin  and  his  faithful 
guide.  Fortunately  for  him  the  Chichimeca  tongue  had 
been  learned  by  him  and  when  the  guards  came  to  lead 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  157 

him  before  their  erratic  king,  he  was  able  to  converse 
with  him ;  the  moment  he  entered  his  presence  he  scowl- 
ingly  exclaimed: 

"Young  man,  I  am  informed  of  your  rank,  also  your 
mission  to  my  people,  and  we  have  a  very  unpleasant 
manner  of  disposing  of  objectionable  adventurers  who 
make  their  way  uninvited  into  my  domain  for  the  ignoble 
purpose  of  inciting  a  rebellion !" 

"King  Tenochititlan,  I  came  not  to  wrest  one  inch  of 
your  disputed  territory,  nor  to  plant  one  grain  of  discord 
among  your  subjects,  nor  detract  in  any  manner  from 
your  sovereignty,  and  when  my  object  had  been  attained 
it  would  not  have  made  you  a  particle  poorer  in  youf 
known  possessions  nor  one  degree  less  a  king.  Inasmuch 
as  I  am  known  to  you  the  identity  of  the  traitor  who  reveal- 
ed and  betrayed  me  is  proven.  Of  you,  in  whose  arteries 
pulses  the  victorious  blood  that  conquered  my  proud  race, 
I  may  except  more  clemency  than  from  the  dastard  who 
sprang  mysteriously  into  existence,  I  am  ashamed  to  say, 
from  a  Toltec  mother." 

"Son  of  maguey,  for  the  present  I  shall  spare  you  and 
provide  you  with  guards,  who  will  lead  you  to  the  lakes 
where  you  shall — as  a  penance — bring  into  my  presence 
a  female  crane  and  a  female  kingfisher  upon  a  floating 
garden,  both  of  them  hatching  a  brood  which  must  be 
ready  to  come  out  of  their  shells  the  moment  that  your 
arrival  is  announced." 

As  he  was  led  away  from  the  palace,  they  met  a  priest 
emerging  from  a  temple  carrying  a  large  bouquet  in  one 
hand  and  a  Huehuetl  in  the  other,  which  gave  a  sharp, 
shrill  sound  as  he  played  upon  it.  He  turned  his  face  rev- 
erently toward  the  east  and  blew  with  great  force  upon 
the  instrument  and  then  toward  the  other  cardinal  points 


158  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

in  the  same  manner,  stopping  at  intervals  to  gather  a 
pinch  of  dust  from  his  path  and  swallow  it. 

At  the  first  blast  of  the  instrument,  his  followers  all 
knelt  down  and  prayed  vociferously;  all  who  had  been 
guilty  of  any  crimes  called  upon  their  gods  to  pardon 
their  guilt  and  not  permit  of  its  being  discovered  by  man. 

The  soldiers  knelt  in  the  dust  and  prayed  for  courage, 
for  strength,  and  for  great  victories  over  their  enemies, 
and  prayed  loudly  for  many  prisoners  for  the  sacrifice ! 

Again  the  music  pealed  forth  and  the  guards  at  a  given 
signal  from  the  priest  led  Meconetzin  into  the  temple  and 
directly  in  front  of  the  sun-god  Tezcatlipoca,  where  lay  a 
robe  the  exact  counterpart  of  the  one  worn  by  the  idol  of 
the  emblem  of  day ;  with  this  garment  he  was  commanded 
to  array  himself,  very  much  to  his  surprise  and  disgust. 

When  the  task  was  completed  and  he  was  again  led 
forth,  the  crowd  of  worshippers  turned  to  do  him  honor. 
Many  prostrated  themselves  in  his  pathway  and  all  of  the 
motly  crowd  gazed  upon  him  with  radiant  smiles  and  ad- 
miring laudations.  He  was  at  a  loss  to  comprehend  the 
significance  of  the  novel  ovation  which  saluted  him  on 
every  side  until  he  was  led  through  the  streets,  where 
they  met  Xolotli  well-guarded.  The  moment  that  his 
eyes  were  turned  toward  the  prince  he  uttered  a  cry  of 
anguish  and  clasped  his  fettered  hands  in  misery;  his 
tragic  looks  and  grieved,  frightened  tones  caused  a 
spasm  of  fear  to  permeate  the  being  of  the  prince  for  a 
moment  only,  then  he  resolutely  advanced  toward  the 
captive  and  demanded  of  him  an  explanation  of  the 
strange  proceedings  about  him  and  the  significance  of  the 
guady  raiment  which  he  had  been  compelled  to  don. 

"Oh  my  Prince,  my  poor  Prince,  you  are  doomed !  You 
are  doomed !  That  robe  is  the  insignia  of  your  fate !  By 
that  token  you  are  marked  to  be  the  next  victim  to  the 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  I  59 

sun-god — that  high-priest  yonder  is  the  one  appointed  to 
tear  out  your  heart  upon  the  Cuaxicalli-tizoc,  sever  your 
head  and  hurl  it  into  the  yawning  Tyzompantli,  and  your 
arms  and  feet  will  be  cooked  and  sent  to  the  tables  of  the 
lords  and  nobles — Oh !  ye  gods !  ye  gods ! !"  And  shackled 
Xolotli  forgot  his  own  terrible  plight  in  his  grief  at  sight 
of  the  prince  wearing  the  seal  of  doom ! 

"When  does  this  sacrifice  take  place,  Xolotli?" 

"In  one  year  from  the  day  upon  which  you  are  chosen 
— the  sacrifice  to  the  sun-god  has  just  transpired,  the 
seventeenth  day  of  May  of  each  year  is  the  fatal  day." 

The  guards  waited  in  respectful  silence  while  the  fore- 
going conversation  ensued,  gazing  with  awe  and  venera- 
tion upon  the  young  prince,  who  experienced  a  welcome 
reaction  in  his  breast  at  the  announcement  of  the  slave. 

The  multitude  began  to  chant  a  dirge  in  suppressed 
and  discordant  tones,  which  sent  a  chill  of  horror  through 
the  sensitive  nerves  of  Meconetzin  and  an  impulse  seized 
him  to  spurn  the  blood-thirsty  wretches  who  groveled  at 
his  feet.  A  stately  palm  near  which  he  stood  raised  its 
sword-tipped  fingers  with  a  sorrowful,  threatening  ges- 
ture and  dropped  them  mournfully  as  the  caressing 
zephyrs  swept  on,  laden  with  that  muffled,  lugubrious 
wail. 

Twelve  moons  had  seemed  an  eternity  to  him  when  the 
mandate  of  king  Nouhyotl  had  been  made  known  to  him, 
but  now  he  knew  that  time  would  hasten  on  with  fleeting 
wings. 

With  a  proud  gesture  he  turned  a  beaming  counte- 
nance upon  the  assembled  multitude,  who  were  unpre- 
pared for  any  show  of  submission  on  his  part,  and  at 
which  demonstration  they  lost  all  control  over  their  sub- 
dued spirits  and  subtle  caution,  and  simultaneously 
rent  the  air  with  savage  reverberating  cries  of  cheer. 


l6o  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

They  considered  the  unparallelled  nerve  of  the  prince  to 
be  more  than  heroic,  sublime. 

When  the  crowds  dispersed  at  the  door  of  the  apart- 
ment which  had  been  assigned  to  him,  he  beguiled  the 
attention  of  the  guards  with  a  show  of  interest  as  to  the 
most  feasable  plan  of  bringing  the  brood  at  the  auspic- 
ious moment  stipulated  by  the  king. 

The  ancient  and  beautiful  city  no  longer  bore  the  name 
of  Tollantzingo,  but  had  been  changed  to  that  of  Ten- 
ochititlan,  in  honor  of  the  ruling  king,  who  had  been  in- 
strumental in  bringing  about  the  quadruple  alliance  which 
had  succeeded  beyond  his  wildest  hopes. 

While  keeping  the  guards'  attention  alert  to  the  im- 
portance of  the  king's  commands,  which  to  all  outward 
appearance  engrossed  his  entire  reflections,  he  absently 
drew  an  arrow  from  the  belt  of  one  of  the  guards  as  if  to 
admire  its  workmanship;  then  he  carelessly  used  it  as  a 
pencil  to  draw  odd  and  comical  figures  upon  the  earthen 
floor ;  finally,  when  the  attention  of  the  guards  were  bent 
upon  his  efforts,  he  began  outlining  keys,  large  ones, 
small  ones,  of  every  size  and  shape  that  he  had  ever  seen, 
and  many  which  he  had  not  seen,  until  one  of  the  guards 
declared  excitedly,  pointing  to  one  of  them,  that  it  was  an 
exact  counterpart  of  the  one  which  had  been  found  on 
the  field  of  Tollantzingo  after  the  terrible  battle,  and  was 
believed  to  be  the  magical  one  which  unlocked  the  hid- 
den treasures  of  the  Tecpantcaltzin  kingdom.  In  an  in- 
different manner  and  tone  the  prince  enquired  if  the  key 
that  had  been  found  had  been  preserved. 

"Oh  yes,  most  revered  Tezcatlipoca,  it  is  among  the 
treasures  of  the  king  and  my  brother  is  one  of  the 
guards."  For  a  moment  the  prince  searched  the  beaten 
floor  with  triumphant  eyes,  then  he  enquired : 

"Why  do  you  call  me  Tezcatlipoca  ?" 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  l6l 

"Because  you  are  our  human  sun-god." 

Fearful  of  exciting  the  least  suspicion  in  the  breast  of 
the  wary  guards,  he  refrained  from  questioning  them 
further  about  the  key,  and  he  languidly  stretched  himself 
upon  his  couch. 

For  several  succeeding  days  the  ceremonies  were  con- 
tinued in  honor  of  the  newly  chosen  sun-god,  at  which 
chafing  restraint  the  prince  exhibited  remarkable  nerve 
and  patient  endurance,  which  appealed  more  to  the  Chi- 
chimecas  than  volumes  of  eloquence  or  tirades  of  abuse 
could  ever  have  done. 

Upon  the  preceding  day  but  one,  to  the  appointed  time 
set  for  their  departure  to  the  lakes  and  at  a  time  when  the 
popularity  of  the  doomed  prince  had  nearly  reached  its 
zenith,  and  when  it  was  considered  a  rare  treat  for  him 
to  deign  a  word  with  them,  he  felt  constrained  to  again 
broach  the  subject  of  the  key. 

The  guards  repeatedly  expressed  their  admiration  for 
his  wonderful  courage,  the  brother  of  the  imperial 
guard  was  his  most  devout  admirer,  and  he  humbly  be- 
sought the  distinguished  prisoner  to  impart  to  him  the 
secret  of  his  wonderful  courage  and  endurance.  Mec- 
onetzin  informed  him  that  there  were  certain  conditions 
which  he  must  religiously  follow  if  he  really  desired  to 
attain  courage  equal  to  his,  and  foremost  of  all  was  de- 
manded a  solemn  pledge  of  secrecy,  for  the  gift  was  only 
transmissable  in  the  most  confidential  manner.  He  cited 
several  trivial  duties  to  be  performed,  and  then  told 
him  that  the  key  in  the  king's  possession  was  not  the  one 
which  secured  the  treasures  of  the  Tecpantcaltzin  king- 
dom, but  was  imbued  with  mighty  strength,  a  fact  which 
he  would  be  aware  of  if  he  could  secure  and  bring  it  to 
him,  when  the  important  power  would  be  his  forever  after 
if  he  never  allowed  his  mind  to  dwell  upon  evil  thoughts. 


1 62  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

When  his  next  watch  came  on  he  tried  to  attract  the 
attention  of  the  prince  by  pointing  triumphantly  to  his 
girdle  when  the  other  guards  were  not  observing  him ;  at 
last,  fearing  that  his  actions  would  arouse  their  suspic- 
ion, he  called  him  aside  and  said:  "How  dare  you  ogle 
me  and  attempt  such  brazen  familiarity?  Know  you  not 
that  I  am  the  only  living  spirit  of  the  great  and  powerful 
Tezcatlipoca  upon  this  earth  ?  I  am  the  representative  of 
heaven,  without  whose  effulgent  rays  no  living  being 
could  exist,  without  which  eternal  night  would  darken 
the  universe !  Remember  henceforth  whose  mighty  spirit 
is  within  me  and  never  seek  to  detract  my  thoughts  from 
my  devotions,  unless  you  are  commanded  by  me  to  make 
yourself  conspicuous." 

The  abashed  guard  made  no  reply,  but  the  meekness  of 
his  devotion  increased,  and  in  order  to  reinstate  himself 
in  the  good  graces  of  the  distinguished  god,  he  ingen- 
iously managed  to  secrete  the  key  under  the  covers  of  the 
couch  of  the  apparantly  indifferent  Tezcatlipoca,  who 
could  hardly  conceal  his  satisfaction  as  he  furtively  be- 
held the  ready  wit  of  the  guard,  who  studiously  avoided 
a  solitary  glance  in  the  direction  of  the  hidden  trophy, 
and  during  the  remainder  of  his  watch  kept  his  head 
"bowed  upon  his  breast  as  if  fearful  of  again  displeasing 
the  great  and  exacting  spirit  of  the  mighty  Tezcatlipoca. 

When  the  welcome  shades  of  night  settled  down  upon 
the  scene,  Meconetzin  drew  the  precious  key  from  its 
hiding  place  to  ascertain  if  possible  whether  the  hidden 
spring  was  really  there  as  his  sweet  dream  had  described, 
and  also  the  parchment  as  stated  by  his  angel  mother. 

It  was  with  great  difficulty  that  he  controlled  his  emo- 
tions as  he  carefully  felt  over  the  entire  surface  of  the 
quaint,  heavy  metal  and  failed  to  discover  any  signs  of  a 
secret  spring  until  his  thumb  nail  sank  between  two 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

raised  rings,  which  had  been  used  to  ornament  the  base 
of  the  curious  device — the  scroll  was  there — and  with  the 
knowledge  of  its  presence  as  had  been  described  to  him, 
came  a  feeling  of  veneration  which  enveloped  his  senses 
and  he  clasped  the  treasure  in  his  grateful  fingers  and 
waited  eagerly  and  sleeplessly  for  the  first  welcome  rays 
of  a  new  day. 

After  the  religious  ceremonies  of  the  morning  were 
over,  during  which  time  he  had  managed  to  read  the 
precious  scroll  and  commit  it  to  memory,  and,  fearful  that 
the  cumbersome  key  might  be  discovered  in  his  posses- 
sion, he  resolved  to  manage  some  amended  devotional  ex- 
ercise which  would  enable  him  to  bury  the  trophy  upon 
the  hillside  leading  to  the  prophet's  cavern. 

Since  he  had  been  successful  in  convincing  the  king, 
and  all  of  his  retinue  that  the  true  spirit  of  the  sun-god 
animated  his  being,  any  capricious  whim  of  his  was  hail-, 
ed  by  them  as  fresh  evidence  of  the  fact,  a  theory  which1 
had  never  been  advanced  by  any  other  youth  who  had' 
been  offered  up  in  sacrifice.  ) 

As  they  filed  out  of  the  temple  he  astonished  the  high- 
priests  who  were  in  advance  of  him  by  chanting  a  sweet 
Toltec  hymn,  beginning  in  a  low,  clear  tremulous  tone 
which  gradually  ascended  until  the  beautiful  valley  joy- 
fully caught  up  the  strain  in  echoes,  which  seemed  to  peal 
with  rapture  like  tinkling  silver  bells  and  then  died  away 
in  a  long  drawn  sob ;  the  blessed  privilege  exhilerated  and 
inspired  him,  and  a  torrent  of  words  rushed  to  his  lips 
which  resolved  themselves  into  the  most  fervent  appeal 
to  the  Supreme  Deity  for  aid  that  was  ever  wafted  to- 
ward the  dome  of  heaven. 

His  large  lustrous  eyes  soul-filled  with  reverent  long- 
ing were  raised  in  supplication  and  as  he  extended  his 
beseeching  arms  aloft,  a  wave  of  intense  passion  glorified 


164  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

his  countenance  and  aroused  some  hidden  depths  of  pity 
in  the  savage  bosoms  of  the  vast  multitude  who  could  not 
resist  the  voice  of  some  urging  spirit  within  them  which 
found  vent  in  wails  that  ended  in  hoarse  lamentation. 

Meconetzin  turned  slowly  and  thoughtfully  in  the  di- 
rection he  had  mapped  out,  and  with  eyes  bent  upon 
the  ground  and  his  hands  clasped  together,  he  wandered 
on,  followed  by  the  priests  and  people  as  far  as  he  deemed 
it  expedient  for  him  to  venture  with  those  superstitious 
hosts  in  that  mooted  direction. 

He  sank  upon  an  inviting  rock  by  the  wayside,  and 
affected  to  gather  up  particles  of  dust  and  swallow  them 
in  imitation  of  their  favorite  devotional  humility,  and  anon 
he  beckoned  to  the  priests  to  sound  the  piping  Huehuetl, 
while  prayers  were  offered  up  by  the  multitude.  Then  he 
arose  and  gathered  some  thorns  from  an  orange  tree 
with  which  he  pierced  the  flesh  of  his  forearm  until  it 
bled,  then  he  dipped  each  thorn  into  the  blood  and  de- 
liberately scooped  out  little  holes  to  bury  them  in,  and  in 
this  way  he  adroitly  managed  to  secret  the  key  in  the 
shadow  of  the  rock  toward  the  sunrise. 

When  the  delicate  task  was  accomplished  he  solemnly 
invoked  the  guiding  spirit  of  the  great  and  only  Tez- 
catlipoca  to  inspire  him  with  further  instructions  which 
he  devoutedly  promised  to  obey.  Then  the  crowd  dis- 
persed at  his  command  exhibiting  in  look  and  tone  the 
veneration  which  they  felt  toward  the  wonderful  repre- 
sentative of  their  hitherto  silent  and  sullen  Tezcatlipoca. 
When  he  again  sought  the  embrace  of  slumber,  it  was 
with  a  feeling  of  relief  and  fervent  gratitude  toward  the 
Supreme  Deity  of  the  sun  and  to  his  guardian  angels  for 
his  success  thus  far,  for  although  he  was  deprived  of  his 
liberty,  the  wily  and  treacherous  Topiltzin  was  surely  de- 
prived of  the  key. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  1 6$ 

The  time  arrived  for  him  to  be  escorted  by  a  number 
of  guards  to  the  rendezvous  of  the  alert  crane  which, 
after  many  ineffectual  attempts  he  finally  succeeded  in 
securing.  Then  they  wandered  farther  up  the  lake  in 
quest  of  the  coy  and  watchful  kingfisher,  which  proved 
to  be  a  much  more  difficult  venture  than  the  fleet-footed 
crane  had  been.  Patiently  he  persevered  day  after  day 
during  which  time  he  superintended  the  building  of  new 
and  unique  floats  of  various  shapes,  to  be  used  as  gar- 
dens, and  more  fantastic  than  those  built  by  his  illustrous 
ancestors. 

He  soon  learned  with  dismay  that  the  source  of  natural 
events  conflicted  greatly  with  all  of  his  plans,  for  the  at- 
tentive crane  mother  produced  a  fine  brood  of  fledglings 
before  he  had  been  successful  in  capturing  any  king- 
fisher. Nothing  remained  for  him  to  do  but  to  start  out 
again  in  quest  of  another  crane,  and  he  reluctantly  gave 
the  command  to  release  the  noisy  little  prisoners. 

The  second  attempt  proved  much  more  difficult  of  ac- 
complishing than  the  first  had  been,  owing  to  the  lateness 
of  the  season,  and  in  despair  he  ordered  all  of  the  guards 
and  servants  to  aid  him  in  capturing  as  many  as  they 
could  manage,  and  with  them  he  ventured  nearer  the  city. 

One  evening  at  the  early  twilight  hour  he  startled  his 
guards  and  servants  by  making  the  solemn  declaration 
that  the  invincible  spirit  of  the  supreme  Tezcatlipoca 
commanded  him  to  arise  and  go  without  delay  to  the 
prophet's  cavern  where  the  will  of  the  revered  deity  would 
be  revealed  to  him;  that  if  he  dare  disobey  the  command 
grave  consequences  would  be  visited  upon  him.  In  ap- 
parent trepidation  he  besought  several  of  the  guards  to 
accompany  him  as  far  as  their  fears  would  permit  them, 
but  they  all  knelt  down  and  besought  every  god  in  the 
heavens,  the  air,  the  earth  and  the  sea  to  bring  him  back 


1 66  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

in  safety  from  such  a  dangerous  mission.  At  the  very 
moment  when  he  made  known  the  request  of  the  prompt- 
ing spirit,  the  three  savage-appearing  animals  were  dole- 
fully awakening  the  resounding  echoes  with  hoarse  howls 
that  ended  in  low  vicious  rasping  snarls. 

He  departed  sturdily  toward  the  rock-bound  orifice 
which  loomed  up  dark  and  forbidding  against  the  night- 
mantled  sky. 

Again  and  again  they  besought  him  to  brave  the  anger 
of  an  injured  spirit  rather  than  risk  his  life  at  the  mercy 
of  those  untamed  beasts  that  haunted  the  cavern,  but  he 
pointed  significantly  to  his  lips  thereby  conveying  the 
idea  that  a  spell  was  already  upon  him  which  deprived 
him  of  speech.  They  were  horrified  at  this  evidence  of 
the  supreme  spirits  influence,  and  offered  no  further  re- 
sistance, and  waited  with  fearful  anxiety  pictured  upon 
each  countenance  as  he  mounted  the  towering  cliff  and 
stood  erect  and  bravely  outlined  against  the  moonlit  sky 
with  those  shaggy  animals  fawning  about  him ;  he  then 
waved  them  a  triumphant  salute  and  turned  and  entered 
the  cavern. 

To  his  surprise  and  pleasure  he  aroused  many  cucuyos 
that  had  taken  up  their  abode  in  the  cavern,  and  as  they 
spread  their  wings  a  wave  of  light  illumined  every  recess 
of  the  novel  resort,  and  with  a  deep  sense  of  veneration 
he  beheld  the  wonderful  plant  just  as  it  had  been  describ- 
ed to  him,  and  he  carefully  gathered  every  heart-shaped 
leaf  and  star-shaped  blossom,  while  a  subdued  feeling  of 
peace  and  veneration  permeated  his  entire  being  as  he 
masticated  a  liberal  portion  of  the  tender  juicy  leaves. 

After  making  a  circuit  of  the  cavern,  and  fearful  of  ex- 
citing the  suspicion  of  the  guards  he  refrained  from  visit- 
ing the  sacred  sepulchre  and  treasure  house. 

As  he  emerged,  the  strange  animals  ceased  their  yelps 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  l6/ 

and  eagerly  flocked  about  him.  The  moon  had  arisen 
and  the  beautiful  surroundings  were  lighted  up  distinctly 
by  its  mellow  lustre,  and  the  awe-struck  guards  and  ser- 
vants huddled  together  in  fear  and  trembling  until  the 
prince  solemnly  advanced  toward  them  and  assured  them 
that  he  was  in  the  full  possession  of  his  faculties;  and 
this  wonderful  exhibition  of  his  nerve  and  power  inspired 
such  a  depth  of  veneration  in  the  simple-minded  people 
that  they  were  ready  to  offer  up  their  very  lives  at  his 
command. 

He  was  quite  amused  as  he  retreated  a  few  paces  from 
them  to  see  them  stoop  down  and  critically  examine  his 
footprints  as  if  to  assure  themselves  that  he  were  really 
human  and  trod  the  earth  as  before,  then  they  reverently 
laid  their  trembling  hands  upon  his  gaily  embroidered 
robe  while  muttering  words  of  devotion  to  their  favorite 
gods. 

One  after  another  of  the  different  broods  were  obliged 
to  be  released  until  there  remained  but  two  handsome 
cranes  and  one  kingfisher,  which  promised  to  insure  the 
arrival  of  their  brood  at  or  about  the  same  time;  then 
he  ordered  the  floats  to  be  festooned  with  trailing  vines 
and  a  choice  collection  of  beautiful  wild-flowers,  over 
which  was  arched  a  bower  of  cleverly  entwined  ever- 
greens that  lent  a  picturesque  charm  to  the  pretty  device. 

The  birds  did  not  disappoint  them;  they  cleaved  their 
shells  simultaneously  one  auspicious  morning,  and  they 
immediately  entered  the  city  and  announced  to  the  king 
the  fulfillment  of  his  wishes. 

The  king  summoned  them  to  appear  before  him,  and 
questioned  a  guard  relative  to  the  incidents  which  trans- 
pired upon  the  journey,  and  he  detailed  every  occurrance, 
expatiating  liberally  upon  the  silent  summons  of  the  im- 
perative Tezcatlipoca,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  was 


1 68  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

obeyed.  The  prince  thus  became  the  hero  of  the  hour, 
but  he  received  the  homage  in  such  a  spirit  of  lofty  un- 
concern that  it  amazed  and  mystified  the  great  Tenoch- 
ititlan,  who  furtively  watched  every  movement  of  the 
prisoner,  and  grew  half  afraid  and  suspicious  of  the  won- 
derful exploits  and  the  esteem  which  amounted  to  abso- 
lute worship  which  the  distinguished  prisoner  elicited 
without  the  least  apparent  effort,  and  he  resolved  to  di- 
vest him  of  his  unusual  popularity  in  some  galling  and 
humiliating  manner,  for  he  was  determined  that  no  in- 
fluence, however  brief,  should  be  allowed  to  conflict  with 
his  royal  sway. 

A  grand  feast  was  prepared  in  honor  of  the  new  ac- 
quisition to  the  king's  gardens,  which  was  followed  by  a 
brilliant  ball  and  the  usual  sacrifice  of  prisoners. 

Six  priests  always  officiated  at  their  sacrifices,  one  of 
them  being  the  great  high  priest  and  executioner  who 
wore  a  bright  red  tunic  straight  in  front  and  back  with 
a  square  hole  in  the  center  through  which  he  thrust  his 
head.  This  flaming  emblem  of  his  rank  was  guadily 
adorned  with  cotton  fringe  of  vivid  colors,  and  he  wore  a 
coronet  of  green  and  yellow  plumes,  massive  gold  pend- 
ants in  each  ear  set  with  rare  and  beautiful  emeralds 
which  gleamed  coldly  in  the  blazing  sunlight.  His  upper 
lip  presented  a  ghastly  appearance,  having  a  circle  of  gold 
set  with  turquoise  forced  through  it  and  fastened  under- 
neath the  nostrils. 

The  other  priests  were  dressed  in  long  white  garments, 
cut  in  the  same  manner  as  that  of  the  great  high  priest, 
and  embroidered  in  black.  Their  bristling  dark  hair  hung 
long  and  loosely,  and  was  heightened  in  its  uncanny  ap- 
pearance with  tiny  paper  wheels  of  various  colors  cun- 
ningly secured  upon  it,  and  their  bodies  were  painted 
black. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  I&9 

At  a  given  signal  from  the  great  high  priest  they  seized 
the  rude  victim  and  carried  him  to  the  highest  rostrum 
in  the  temple  upon  which  the  Cuaxicalli-tizoc  was  situ- 
ated, upon  which  they  hurled  him,  after  announcing  to 
the  assembled  multitude  to  which  god  he  should  be  sacri- 
ficed. The  high  priest  crossed  his  hands  over  the  fore- 
head of  the  victim  and  began  in  stentorian  tones  to  call 
down  upon  him  the  wrath  of  every  god  and  the  menace 
of  every  evil  which  might  afflict  the  people.  Then  four 
priests  secured  his  hands  and  feet  while  the  fifth  one 
fastened  his  head  with  a  wooden  instrument  made  in  the 
shape  of  a  coiled  and  tongue  protruding  serpent  which 
extended  securely  about  his  throat. 

The  altar  was  made  convex,  which  arched  the  body 
considerably  and  reared  the  breast  and  abdomen  in  such 
a  manner  that  resistance  was  impossible;  then  the  high 
priest  in  imitation  of  the  Toltec  custom  laid  his  hands 
upon  the  victim's  Head  and  prayed  loudly  for  health  and 
blessings  upon  the  king,  because  he  governed  his  people 
well  and  entered  into  a  long  list  of  his  virtues  and  prayed 
for  more  victories  and  more  prisoners,  and  for  peace  and 
contentment  throughout  the  kingdom,  and  again  called 
down  upon  him  all  the  curses  and  afflictions  which  might 
otherwise  be  visited  upon  their  people ;  he  then  seized  the 
blade  of  obsidian  with  which  he  opened  the  breast  and 
tore  out  the  heart  which  he  piously  offered  to  the  lips  of 
the  idol,  then  threw  it  at  its  feet  for  the  third  time,  then 
upon  a  pan  of  living  embers,  and  reverently  gazed  upon  it 
until  it  was  consumed,  thus  destroying  any  possibility  of 
a  future  existence  of  their  enemy;  then  he  annointed  the 
lips  of  the  idol  and  the  entrance  to  the  temple  with  the 
blood.  He  then  returned  and  severed  the  head  from  the 
body  throwing  the  latter  down  into  the  outstretched  hands 
of  the  soldiers  who  had  captured  him  and  they  joyfully; 


I7O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

hastened  to  their  homes  with  the  trophy  to  prepare  a 
feast. 

With  horror  and  amazement  the  prince  beheld  the 
brutal  demonstration  and  his  gentle  soul  shivered  in 
agony  at  the  barbarous  ignorance  and  fiendish  supersti- 
tion of  the  cannibal  Chichimecas,  committed  in  the  name 
of  worship.  He  forgot  that  to  such  a  fate  he  too  was 
doomed ;  forgot  all  save  the  consuming  wish  to  appeal  to 
the  multitude  before  him  and  arouse  if  possible  some 
latent  phase  of  humanity  which  he  believed  only  needed 
kindling  to  awaken  a  flame.  Repulsion  was  alive  in 
every  lineament  of  his  expressive  features  through  which 
shone  that  lofty  soul  no  king  or  curse  could  humble,  for 
he  was  unable  to  restrain  his  indignation.  He  plunged 
through  the  wondering  crowd,  leaped  upon  the  blood- 
stained rostrum  and  in  ringing  tones  he  commanded  the 
attention  of  the  astounded  multitude  saying: 

"Hear  me,  you  king  priests,  and  nobles;  hearken,  ye 
ignorant  children  of  a  deluded  faith,  for  the  spirit  of  the 
Supreme  Diety  of  the  sun  inspires  me  to  appeal  to  you! 
In  His  name  I  denounce  the  inhuman  and  disgusting 
spectacle  here  enacted  in  the  name  of  worship !  No  god 
of  the  sun,  of  earth,  of  air,  or  of  sea,  demands  of  you  a 
human  sacrifice !  Beware  how  you  offend  Him  who 
holds  the  keys  of  heaven  and  wields  the  power  to  make 
each  one  and  all  of  you  to  feel  the  sting  of  death  more 
bitterly  than  he  whom  you  have  just  tortured  into  eterni- 
ity.  He  will  send  the  grumbling  earthquake  to  crumble 
these  templed  halls,  and  mad  darting  tongues  of  flame 
will  leap  from  the  frowning  sky  indignant  at  the  despolia- 
tion of  His  handiwork  which  your  gory  hands  have 
wrought.  Beware,  the  fury  of  the  Supreme  Deity  is  now 
about  to  burst  upon  you ;  a  wave  of  destruction  f orbodes 
the  very  air  you  breathe  I" 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

Scarcely  had  the  last  echoes  of  his  brave  tones  ceased 
to  reverberate  the  vast  audience  hall  when,  at  a  given 
signal  from  the  king  the  guards  sprang  forward  and 
seized  the  doomed  hero  and  turned  in  obedience  to  the 
great  high  priest  to  hurl  him  upon  the  reeking  martyr- 
stone.  At  that  precise  moment  a  loud  boom  of  thunder 
awoke  the  dormant  echoes  as  if  an  injured  Divinity  had 
called  out  from  the  heavens,  "beware !"  The  threatening 
voice  from  on  high  appaled  the  multitude  and  called  up 
every  superstitious  fear  in  their  savage  bosoms.  The 
surly  tones  of  the  king  took  on  a  contrite  cadence  as  he 
beckoned  the  guards  to  escort  the  distinguished  prisoner 
back  to  his  temporary  abode,  while  the  crowd  gazed  upon 
him  in  admiration  mingled  with  fear. 

The  copious  shower  of  rain  which  followed  was  con- 
sidered miraculous,  and  received  added  significance  from 
the  fact  that  the  cloudless  sky  had  been  appealed  to  for 
moons  and  moons  to  allay  the  ravages  of  a  terrible  drouth 
which  had  continued  and  threatened  to  destroy  all  of  the 
vegetation.  In  the  beginning  of  the  drouth  they  had,  as  was 
their  barbarous  custom,  offered  up  in  sacrifice  to  the  god 
Tlaloc  two  little  boys  of  six  years  each,  whom  they  had 
entombed  in  the  tower  at  Palpan  heights  and  left  to 
perish  of  fear,  hunger  and  thirst  in  the  hope  of  allaying 
the  evident  anger  of  the  rain-god.  Then  they  waited 
another  moon,  and  still  in  vain,  when  a  score  of  victims 
were  offered  up  on  the  martyr-stone,  but  the  drouth  still 
continued. 

As  a  final  resort  or  appeal  to  heaven  they  took  a  male 
and  a  female  child  fantastically  adorned  with  jewels, 
feathers  and  flowers  to  the  banks  of  Atechpanomochocho, 
which  name  they  had  changed  to  Tezcuco,  and  after  of- 
fering up  loud  and  long  supplications,  they  plunged  the 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

children  into  the  lake  and  drowned  them.    But  stfll  Tlaloc 
refused  to  grant  their  plea. 

These  solemn  facts  were  fresh  in  the  minds  of  those 
superstitious  people  who  had  borne  witness  to  the  direct 
manifestation  from  on  high  even  as  the  trumpet  voice 
of  the  prince  had  warned  them,  and  their  breasts  were 
filled  with  strange  misgivings  as  a  bountiful  supply  of 
rain  burst  from  the  heavens  accompanied  by  the  most 
deafening  thunder  and  dazzling  lightning  which  they  had 
ever  beheld.  For  several  days  the  rain  poured  down  in- 
cessantly, rejuvenated  the  parched  earth,  and  filled  the 
streets  until  they  appeared  like  rivers,  and  the  remafkable 
event  caused  a  demur  among  the  thoughtful  ones, 
although  they  dare  not  express  their  sentiments  openly, 
but  the  alert  priests  surmised  the  growing  germ  of  doubt 
and  uncertainty  which  might  lead  to  discord  in  the  minds 
of  some  of  their  followers,  which  fact  was  portrayed  in 
their  tell-tale  countenances.  It  was  in  consideration  of 
these  surmises,  and  at  the  close  of  the  protracted  rainfall 
that  they  decided  to  offer  up  a  fresh  vote  of  thanks  in  the 
shape  of  another  ball,  festival  and  sacrifice  upon  a  grand- 
er scale  than  the  preceding  one  in  order  to  regain  the  lost 
vantage  ground  in  the  minds  of  their  subjects  occasioned 
by  the  impressive  words  of  the  Son  of  Maguey. 

The  priests  themselves  in  order  to  destroy  any  possible 
influence  which  they  feared  might  have  unconsciously 
entered  their  own  souls,  pierced  their  flesh  repeatedly 
with  thorns  of  maguey ;  their  ears,  lips,  tongues,  arms  and 
legs,  and  into  each  cavity  they  inserted  pieces  of  cane. 
The  exudations  were  carefully  placed  into  the  tyzom- 
pantli,  and  the  thorns  were  buried  in  balls  of  hay  which 
they  solemnly  exposed  in  the  temple. 

After  the  scourging  was  considered  sufficiently  im- 
pressive and  effectual,  the  priests  removed  the  wedges  of 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  173 

cane,  and  immediately  bathed  in  a  large  basin  prepared 
for  the  purpose  called  an  Ezapan,  where  the  discolored 
water  was  preserved  as  an  emblem  of  penance;  the  reeds 
were  hung  conspicuously  upon  the  walls  of  the  temple, 
and  then  the  preparations  for  the  thank-offering  began. 

Slaves  were  commanded  to  plant  six  stout  trees  into 
the  earthen  floor  of  the  temple,  and  during  that  time 
young  priestesses  were  told  to  bring  heated  plates  to  the 
foot  of  the  altar  that  the  vapor  arising  from  them  should 
serve  as  food  for  the  immortal  gods. 

A  large  and  a  small  cross  were  erected  at  the  base  of 
the  rostrum,  upon  which  were  tied  two  aged  Toltec 
slaves,  whose  sorrowful  countenances  betrayed  their 
knowledge  of  their  fearful  doom.  But  they  uttered  no 
groan  nor  word  of  protest,  as  the  recently  captured  pris- 
oners were  doing,  who  knew  that  their  fate  would  soon  be 
sealed  in  some  brutal  manner. 

The  Toltec  upon  the  large  cross  was  shot  to  death  with' 
arrows  in  the  hands  of  juvenile  Chichimecas,  who  were 
thus  permitted  to  exhibit  their  prowess  as  future  warri- 
ors, and  the  one  upon  the  small  cross  was  beaten  to  death 
by  a  stout  club  in  the  hands  of  the  great  high  priest. 

Prisoners  were  forced  to  mount  the  six  trees,  where- 
upon they  were  secured  with  cords  of  ixtl,  and  they,  too, 
were  made  a  target  for  the  practice  of  arrow  shooting 
by  small  boys.  When  life  was  extinct,  priests  ascended 
the  trees  untied  the  bodies  and  allowed  them  to  fall  to  the 
floor,  where  they  were  seized  by  waiting  slaves  who  were 
ordered  to  skin  them  and  separate  the  bones  from  the 
flesh  and  muscles,  and  in  the  ghastly  strips  of  skin  the 
priests  arrayed  themselves,  then  filled  their  hands  with 
the  bones  and  sallied  forth  with  slow  and  measured  tread 
while  the  admiring  crowd  in  advance  of  them  cried  in 
loud,  exultant  tones: 


174  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"Behold  our  gods  approaching!" 

The  bodies  of  the  Toltec  slaves  were  left  tied  to  the 
crosses  until  the  return  of  the  priests  when  they  were 
placed  side  by  side  in  front  of  the  sanctuary  as  a  terrible 
warning,  which  they  felt  quite  confident  was  sufficiently 
impressive  to  obliterate  any  influence  created  by  the  con- 
demned words  of  Meconetzin,  who  had  been  solemnly 
warned  that  any  further  remonstrance  from  him  would 
call  down  complete  annihilation  of  the  Toltec  slaves  in 
Tenochititlan. 

The  hot  blood  of  indignation  surged  madly  through 
his  veins  and  flamed  his  soul^filled  eyes  that  flashed  de- 
fiance to  the  mocking  faces  of  the  priests,  who  bent  upon 
him  a  supercilious  stare  while  in  the  performance  of  their 
diabolical  exertions. 

He  was  relieved  somewhat  of  the  taut  strain  upon  his 
excited  nerves  when  the  soothing  waves  of  music  en- 
raptured the  zephyred  air  as  the  ball  was  opened,  bringing 
another  scene  laden  with  tender  memories,  where  his  own 
eager  feet  responded  to  the  tune  of  the  areyto.  All  of  the 
gruesome  scenes  before  him  melted  away  as  a  vision  of 
girlish  lovliness  appeared  to  him  as  he  had  last  gazed 
upon  her.  A  subdued  mellow  light  glowed  upon  his 
features,  and  the  muscles  of  his  face  relaxed  and  softened 
as  he  lived  again  that  sweet  dream  of  love  and  peace.  He 
heeded  not  the  many  admiring  glances  flashed  upon  him 
until  he  was  persuaded  to  join  the  dancers,  when  his  manly 
figure  glided  gracefully  in  the  circling  dance,  and  his 
gleaming  carcanet,  which  reflected  every  ray  of  the 
flaming  torches,  added  lustre  to  his  height  and  made  him 
the  observed  of  all  observers. 

Upon  the  following  morning  when  a  guard  brought 
him  a  steaming  breakfast,  he  utterly  refused  to  partake 
of  it,  and  at  the  noontide  hour  he  again  turned  away  from 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

the  meal  in  apparent  disgust,  and  the  day  ended  without 
his  having  partaken  of  food.  A  fact  of  such  importance 
was  considered  worthy  of  the  king  and  high  priests'  im- 
mediate attention  and  was  considered  by  them  a  calamity 
indeed,  as  they  foresaw  in  the  future  the  propect  of  an 
uninviting  meal  upon  the  most  auspicious  feast  day  of 
the  whole  year.  They  debated  at  great  length  upon  the 
best  method  of  creating  a  good  appetite  for  the  distin- 
guished Tezcatlipoca  who  should  be  served  up  in  the 
most  approved  manner  known  to  the  cuisine  of  the  Chi- 
chimecas. 

The  guards  were  commanded  to  summon  the  prison- 
er without  delay,  and  again  lead  him  to  the  lakes  to  con- 
struct another  float  upon  which  he  should  bring  a  live 
deer  into  the  garden  of  the  king;  the  violent  exercise 
necessary  to  the  feat  would,  they  devoutedly  hoped, 
awaken  a  ravenous  appetite,  the  one  adjunct  necessary  to 
the  proper  appearance  of  the  next  victim  to  the  sun-god, 
very  much  to  the  gratification  of  all  concerned. 

The  command  was  welcome  to  the  Son  of  Maguey, 
who  received  it  with  apparent  indifference,  and  with  an 
extra  cordon  of  watchful  guards  they  set  out  to  accomp- 
lish the  mission.  All  nature  was  especially  inviting,  and 
the  cool  breath  from  the  beautiful  lake  was  very  refresh- 
ing. Days  followed  each  other  swiftly  in  the  quick  suc- 
cession of  the  novelty  of  the  chase,  but  the  guards  were 
nonplussed  beyond  measure  at  the  distinguished  prison- 
er's total  abstinence  from  food.  Yet  he  was  always  fore- 
most in  the  line  of  pursuit.  At  last,  they  began  to  fear 
him,  as  a  disembodied  spirit  for  his  ever  cheerful  frame 
of  mind  suggested  such  an  utter  indifference  to  bodily 
comfort  that  it  filled  their  souls  with  chagrin.  It  proved 
to  be  a  very  difficult  task  to  capture  a  live  deer,  for  no 
sooner  did  fleet  Meconetzin  lay  hands  upon  one  than  it 


Ij  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

bounded  away  closely  pursued  by  him,  and  the  whole 
band,  who  were  obliged  to  exert  themselves  to  their  ut- 
most, and  then  could  not  keep  pace  with  him,  and  they 
believed  that  spirits  fed  him  some  mysterious  leaven 
which  provided  him  with  the  marvelous  endurance  which 
he  manifested,  and  they  feared  that  he  would  mount  some 
low  hanging  cloud  and  sail  away  from  their  gaze  for- 
ever. 

A  stout  thong  of  ixtl  was  prepared  by  them  to  noose 
about  the  neck  of  the  next  deer  which  might  be  reached 
by  an  expert  thrower,  who  was  allowed  to  keep  well  in 
advance  in  order  to  test  his  dexterity,  and  in  this  manner 
a  sleek,  graceful  one  with  large  liquid  eyes,  that  carried 
a  look  of  human  intelligence  in  their  depths,  was  cap- 
tured. 

They  then  commenced  their  return  to  the  city,  and  as 
they  neared  the  path  leading  to  the  prophet's  cavern,  the 
guards  increased  their  vigilance  over  the  prisoner,  who 
was  in  the  meantime  devising  a  ruse  to  outwit  them,  and 
he  gazed  determinedly  toward  the  cavern,  and  announced 
in  calm  positive  tones  that  his  controlling  spirit  urged 
him  to  return  to  the  cavern  for  a  moment  where  an  im- 
portant communication  awaited  him;  that  if  he  was  not 
permitted  to  do  so  a  terrible  vengeance  would  be  visited 
upon  those  who  sought  to  restrain  him.  But  the  potent 
effect  of  the  last  horrible  sacrifice  was  too  vividly  impress- 
ed upon  them  to  harbor  the  least  suspicion  of  leniency, 
for  they  had  been  strictly  enjoined  to  prevent  him  from 
visiting  the  prophet's  cave;  and  they  were  more  willing 
to  bear  the  malice  of  an  unseen  spirit  than  that  of  the  ef- 
fective demons  who  dwelt  in  the  bosoms  of  those  in 
power.  It  was  absolutely  necessary  for  Meconetzin  to 
provide  himself  with  a  fresh  supply  of  the  precious 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

leaves,  which  alone  had  sustained  him  during  the  period 
that  he  had  abstained  from  food. 

His  stately  form  took  on  an  attitude  of  majestic  de- 
fiance as  he  exclaimed : 

"Unless  you  permit  me  to  go  to  the  cave  in  peace, 
beware  of  the  wrath  of  the  messenger  from  the  sun,  who 
will  yet  make  his  appearance  when  all  things  mentioned 
and  predicted  by  the  prophets  shall  have  been  fulfilled. 
He  is  coming,  and  will  bring  rejoicing  to  those  of  Toltec 
blood,  and  all  who  believe  in  him !  Even  you,  if  you  dis- 
card your  ignorant,  brutal  ways !  He  will  appear  in  the 
flesh,  you  will  recognize  him ;  for  his  imperial  head,  arms 
and  breast  will  be  fashioned  like  man,  but  the  remainder 
of  his  body  will  be  like  unto  a  four-footed  beast,  un- 
known to  our  land,  and  he  will  arrive  with  a  retinue  of 
guards  having  the  same  form  as  himself,  which  will  per- 
mit them  to  make  double  progress  upon  the  march,  and 
unless  you  give  him  the  most  abject  homage  he  will  shake 
the  heavens  with  thunder,  and  the  earth  with  fearful  con- 
vulsions !  You  dare  not  disregard  his  warning  then  nor 
now!  Release  your  detaining  hands  until  I  kneel  and 
implore  Him  to  permit  me  to  give  you  solemn  and  tang- 
ible proof  that  I  but  obey  his  will." 

At  these  words  they  reluctantly  released  him,  and  he 
strode  a  few  paces  in  the  opposite  direction  from  the  path 
leading  to  the  cavern,  where  he  saw  a  well-known  plant 
of  singular  properties  growing,  concerning  which  he  pos- 
sessed knowledge  that  was  known  only  to  his 
people,  and  his  fertile  brain  conceived  the  way  to  mystify 
and  prey  upon  the  susceptibilities  of  the  obdurate  guards. 
He  knelt  down  in  apparent  devotion,  and  surreptiously 
gathered  several  of  the  leaves,  and  then  wandered  farther 
on  until  he  saw  and  possessed  himself  of  the  antidote  for 
the  same  which  fortunately  grew  near.  Armed  with  those 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

articles  which  were  heaven-sent,  and  which  he  cleverly 
concealed  in  the  palm  of  each  hand,  he  solemnly  ad- 
vanced toward  them  and  said: 

"You  are  commanded  by  men,  and  obey  the  orders  of 
mortal  beings,  but  I  obey  the  divine  laws  of  immortal 
tongues  and  as  you  strive  to  detain  my  mortal  being 
thereby  defying  the  wish  of  the  divine  Tezcatlipoca,  the 
immortal  and  unseen  messenger  from  the  sun,  has  warn- 
ed me  that  my  spirit  shall  at  once  be  released!  That  is 
something  which  you  cannot  detain  and  you  can  then 
carry  my  lifeless  body  which  you  must  deliver  to  king 
Tenotschititlan."  As  he  said  these  words,  he  pressed  his 
right  hand  to  his  face  for  a  moment  as  if  in  deep  medi- 
tation when  the  horrified  guards  saw  streams  of  blood 
gushing  through  his  fingers  and  when  they  attempted  to 
remove  his  hand  a  red  stream  spurted  from  both  nostrils 
and  they  were  greatly  alarmed  and  held  a  hurried  con- 
sultation to  consider  the  advisability  of  giving  consent  to 
his  request,  for  they  feared  that  the  king  would  be  far 
more  exasperated  at  his  untimely  death  than  at  the  act 
of  disobedience  on  their  part. 

Meconetzin  appeared  to  be  losing  his  strength  remark- 
ably fast  and  swayed  from  side  to  side,  although  sup- 
ported by  two  frightened  guards. 

"We  grant  you  permission  to  go  to  the  cavern,"  said 
their  leader  in  wavering  tones,  and  Meconetzin  raised 
his  left  hand  tremulously  to  his  face  for  a  moment  as  if 
to  gather  his  wandering  thoughts  and  behold,  the  hem- 
orrage  ceased  and  he  arose  with  difficulty  and  without  a 
word  advanced  toward  the  haunted  cavern. 

The  guards  displayed  sufficient  presence  of  mind  to  sep- 
arate, and  part  of  their  number  hurried  in  a  circuitous 
route  to  the  forest  side  of  the  cavern  as  near  as  their 
trembling  limbs  would  carry  them.  They  were  determin- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  1 79 

cd  that  he  should  effect  no  further  escape  even  if  the 
imperative  and  apparently  capricious  spirit  of  Tezcatli- 
poca  urged  him  to  do  so. 

With  care  and  deliberation  the  prince  gathered  each 
leaf  and  blossom  and  secured  them  in  a  compact  form  as 
possible,  then  hid  them  in  the  folds  of  his  robe  as  he  had 
done  before;  his  prolonged  absence  excited  the  guards, 
who  were  about  to  forward  a  runner  to  the  city  to  raise 
the  alarm,  when  he  emerged  from  the  cavern  and  descend- 
ed the  cliff  and  quietly  joined  them,  offering  no  response 
to  their  eager  questions  other  than  that  he  was  forbid- 
den to  reveal  anything  further. 

Great  was  the  consternation  of  the  king  and  all  of  his 
distinguished  followers,  when  the  full  account  of  their 
adventures  were  reported  to  them  especially  as  to  his 
continued  abstinence  from  food;  he  viewed  their  grow- 
ing displeasure  with  nonchalance  as  the  guards  rehearsed 
each  trivial  action  which  was  repeated  several  times,  and 
at  each  repitition  the  king  became  more  furious.  When 
he  commanded  them  to  silence  he  turned  to  the  Son  of 
Maguey  and  exclaimed: 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  all  this,  which  I  hear  regard- 
ing a  messenger  from  the  sun  ?" 

"King  Tenochititlan,  if  you  were  conversant  with  the 
"book  of  truths"  compiled  by  the  late  prophet  of  Tollant- 
zingo  you  had  had  no  need  to  enquire  of  me  further  evi- 
dence of  my  authority  for  these  recent  utterances." 

"Was  it  like  the  Teoamoxtli  ?" 

"The  Teoamoxtli,"  contained  a  history  of  our  people, 
and  the  book  of  truths  was  the  religious  records  \vhich 
was  an  auxiliary  to  the  former  work." 

"Who  has  these  works  ?" 

"Our  king,  Nouhyotl,  has  a  portion  of  the  works,  the 


1 8O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

remainder  were  probably  destroyed  by  your  people,  and 
by  your  commands." 

"No,  there  was  nothing  resembling  records  found  by 
my  people.  Was  this  prophesy  referred  to,  made  by  the 
Toltec  Savior  Quetzalcoahtl  ?'  " 

"No,  it  was  handed  down  by  Votan,  the  founder  of  the 
Toltec  nation,  who  assured  his  people  of  the  coming  of 
a  messenger  from  the  sun." 

"Why  were  you  summoned  to  the  prophet's  cavern,  and 
why  do  you  persist  in  abstaining  from  food  ?" 

"In  the  name  of  the  divine  and  supreme  Tezcatlipoca, 
I  refuse  to  answer  you !" 

The  words  of  the  prisoner  were  calmly  and  deliberately 
spoken,  and  a  hush  intense  fell  upon  the  audience  while 
the  priests  compressed  their  lips  firmly.  The  king 
seemed  more  alarmed  than  offended,  and  he  held  a  long 
consultation  with  his  priests  and  nobles.  The  former 
urged  upon  him  the  immediate  necessity  of  his  exerting 
his  authority  over  the  prisoner  whose  influence  they  de- 
clared was  dangerous  to  the  future  welfare  of  their  na- 
tion inasmuch  as  he  utterly  disregarded  his  commands, 
and  defied  him  to  the  world. 

After  mature  deliberation  upon  the  important  subject, 
the  king  followed  his  counselor's  advice  and  ordered  that 
he  be  taken  to  certain  portions  of  the  temple,  and  at  each 
designated  corner  blood  was  to  be  drawn  from  his  arms, 
and  he  was  condemned  to  remain  in  the  temple  five  suc- 
cessive days  and  nights  with  watchful  priests,  who  were 
commanded  to  keep  him  from  sleeping  during  that  period, 
and  they  chanted  hymns  continually  and  four  times  dur- 
ing each  night  the  watchers  regaled  the  rancid  air  with 
noxious  vapors. 

One  of  the  conscience-smitten  priests  who  had,  he  said, 
unwillingly  borne  witness  to  the  effective  warnings  given 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  l8l 

by  Meconetzin,  although  fulfilled  in  a  manner  advantage- 
ous to  them,  still  desired  to  impress  upon  their  follow- 
ers the  suggestion  that  it  was  a  dreadful  calamity.  So 
he  went  to  the  woods  to  do  penance,  and  had  a  hut  made 
for  himself  of  green  boughs  in  which  he  took  up  his 
abode,  giving  strict  orders  that  it  should  be  kept  green 
during  his  self-enforced  sojourn  there;  and  he  an- 
nounced that  he  should  subsist  upon  raw  corn  and  water, 
and  would  remain  until  the  sacrifice  of  Tezcatlipoca. 

Four  other  priests  who  lived  in  the  temple  of  Teohua- 
can  dressed  themselves  like  the  poor,  and  reduced  their 
food  to  two  ounce  corn  cakes  and  a  mug  of  corn  porridge 
daily.  Their  deluded  followers  were  far  from  indifferent 
to  the  accumulating  manifestations  of  remorse  and  fidel- 
ity to  their  faith,  and  yet  their  hearts  leaped  with  sup- 
pressed exultation  toward  the  inspired  being  who  had 
been  instrumental  in  calling  forth  such  a  torrent  of  emo- 
tion in  the  breasts  of  their  most  important  rulers,  and 
they  all  looked  eagerly  forward  to  the  crowning  event  of 
all  the  commotion  which  had  no  parallel  in  the  history  of 
the  sun-god. 


1 82  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

TIME,  with  relentless  austerity,  rolled  on  until  but  five 
days  remained  to  the  Son  of  Maquey  before  the  au- 
spicious fifteenth  day  antedating  the  execution.  Upon  the 
latter  date  four  ol  the  most  beautiful  young  maidens  of 
the  realm  were  always  chosen  to  whom  doomed  Tezcatli- 
poca's  were  always  married.  Knowing  that  the  ob- 
noxious custom  would  be  carried  out  in  his  case  he  re- 
solved to  make  his  escape  or  die  in  the  attempt  before 
submitting  to  the  mockery  of  such  a  marriage. 

The  king  and  priests  ceased  to  demur  at  his  refusal  to 
partake  of  food,  and  as  he  still  presented  quite  a  whole- 
some appearance,  and  the  time  was  drawing  near,  they 
restored  him  to  his  former  favor,  and  his  worshippers 
became  more  devout  than  ever. 

He  adroitly  managed  to  unearth  the  precious  key  and 
fasten  it  securely  upon  his  person. 

The  third  day  previous  to  the  nuptials  arrived,  and  no 
feasible  plan  had  presented  itself  to  him  as  an  avenue  of 
escape.  Upon  that  particular  day  each  one  of  his  pre- 
decessors had  been  subjected  to  the  humiliation  of  march- 
ing through  the  streets  asking  alms,  and  he,  too,  was 
elected  to  the  same  ordeal. 

The  blazing  sun  beat  down  with  unrelenting  fury  at 
the  noontide  hour  when  he  was  escorted  through  admir- 
ing crowds  carrying  a  silver  tray.  A  mild  look  of  ap- 
parent resignation  masked  his  expressive  features,  while 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  1 83. 

his  fertile  brain  was  devising  means  of  escape,  for  he 
decided  that  the  day  and  hour  had  arrived,  and  he  was 
nerved  to  a  wonderful  sense  of  desperation. 

At  every  street  corner  he  scanned  the  motley  crowd, 
and  measured  the  chances  for  a  start.  Not  one  brave  in 
that  vast  assembly  was  more  fleet  of  foot  than  he,  a  fact 
of  which  he  had  had  ample  proof  during  his  enforced 
journeyings  to  the  lakes. 

All  through  that  eventful  afternoon  he  watched  in  vain 
for  a  break  in  the  surging  throng  which  would  insure 
him  a  little  advantage.  The  dusky  twilight  began  to 
gather,  and  the  crowd  became  thinned  as  they  turned 
their  steps  toward  the  temple  and  he  felt  that  the  precious 
moment  had  at  last  arrived.  Just  as  he  turned  to  enter 
the  sanctuary  he  dropped  the  ringing  silver  with  its  jing- 
ling metals  aaid  gems  as  if  by  accident,  and  when  the 
eager  guards  knelt  down  to  recover  the  precious  offer- 
ings, the  Son  of  Maguey  turned  quickly  toward  the  path 
leading  toward  the  prophet's  cavern,  and  sped  onward, 
as  if  on  the  wings  of  the  wind. 

A  wild  demoniac  yell  of  horror  sounded  loudly  in  his 
wake  but  he  plunged  forward.  On,  on,  it  seemed  as  if 
the  mysterious  aid  of  angels  helped  him  on,  and  he 
seemed  to  hear  the  gentle  swishing  of  their  tireless  wings 
beating  the  balmy  air. 

The  huge  parapet  loomed  up  darkly  before  him,  and 
for  a  brief  moment  his  manly  form  was  outlined  against 
the  solid  wall  of  the  sheltering  cavern  which  he  entered 
safe  from  all  intrusion.  He  knew  that  each  Chichimeca 
in  the  Tenochititlan  kingdom  would  meet  his  fate  at  the 
sacrifice  rather  than  venture  into  the  haunted  cavern. 
That  they  would  be  sent  to  surround  the  place  at  a  given 
distance  he  felt  assured,  but  he  feared  not  their  vigilence, 
and  a  deep  sense  of  gratitude  welled  up  to  the  Supreme 


184  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

Deity  in  behalf  of  his  success  thus  far,  and  his  faith 
wavered  not  in  his  ability  to  reach  the  goal  of  liberty  as 
lie  gazed  upon  the  guiding  light  which  beamed  forth 
from  the  starlit  dome  of  heaven — the  smiling  Quetzalco- 
,ahtl. 

One  fact  he  had  learned  through  careless  enquiry,  that 
in  the  case  of  the  death  of  a  temporary  Tezcatlipoca, 
the  high  priest  was  privileged  to  choose  the  second  officer 
of  the  army  to  take  Eis  place,  and  he  remembered  with 
satisfaction  that  the  said  officer  of  the  present  time  was 
quite  advanced  in  years,  and  so  attenuated  that  he  seemed 
to  have  undergone  the  process  of  ossification. 

While  he  dwelt  upon  these  things  he  was  trying  to 
•dispel  a  cry  of  nature  that  was  making  itself  heard  more 
entreatingly  each  moment,  and  he  could  not  but  dwell 
with  concern  upon  the  craving  that  was  consuming  his 
vitals  with  intolerable  thirst ! 

He  strove  to  engage  his  thoughts  upon  Xolotli,  and 
wondered  if  he  would  remember  to  follow  the  minute 
directions  which  he  had  given  him — in  case  he  managed 
to  escape — a  feat  which  they  knew  would  be  far  more 
difficult  of  accomplishing  for  himself  than  for  the  slave, 
who  had  after  a  cruel  punishment  from  the  lash,  been 
set  to  work  at  his  former  vocation,  and  had  met  the 
doomed  prince  but  twice  during  the  term  of  his  captivity. 
That  Xolotli  would  learn  of  his  escape  at  once  he  was 
convinced,  as  such  a  calamity  would  create  a  panic,  not 
having  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  the  sacrifice  to  the  sun- 
god;  that  he  could  easily  make  his  way  unobserved  past 
the  cordon  of  police  who  affected  to  guard  the  cavern, 
he  felt  convinced,  knowing  full  well  that  their  super- 
stitious fears  by  far  exceeded  their  vigilance ;  but,  would 
he  have  the  courage  to  come  to  the  shelter  of  the  cavern  ? 

For  a  couple  of  days  the  king  and  high  priest  fondly 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  1 85 

believed  that  the  imperative  spirit  which  ruled  his  destiny 
had  only  issued  a  fresh  command,  and  when  it  was  ful- 
filled that  he  would  voluntarily  return  and  resume  the  re- 
sponsibilities involved  in  his  distinguished  position. 
While  he  was  striving  to  overcome  the  terrible  thirst 
which  was  fast  unnerving  him,  his  lips  became  parched 
from  the  intense  heat  to  which  he  had  been  subjected  so 
many  long  hours  with  no  cooling  draught  to  stay  the 
wretched  longing.  The  fresh  leaves  of  the  life-giving  plant 
yielded  great  relief  and  renewed  his  powers  of  endurance 
for  many  long  hours  while  he  lay  prone  upon  the  cool 
rock  floor  panting  and  restless  until  every  echo  of  the 
soughing  night-winds  seemed  burdened  with  the  tantal- 
izing cry  of  water,  water ! 

Finally  the  wish  entered  his  mind  to  visit  the  treasure- 
house  and  sepulchre.  He  secured  a  supply  of  cucuyos  to 
fight  his  way,  and  descended  the  rock  stairway  which  had 
last  echoed  to  the  faltering  foot-steps  of  gentle  Hueman 
and  dying  Topiltzin,  bearing  the  lifeless  body  of  queen 
Xochitl. 

A  dense  growth  of  creeping  vines  completely  obscured 
£he  secret  entrance  which  bore  the  appearance  of  being 
a  solid  wall  of  stone,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  he 
found  the  exact  portion  of  the  rock  upon  which  he 
brought  to  bear  the  full  force  of  his  agile  form  in  order 
to  remove  it  from  the  socket  and  caused  it  to  revolve  and 
slowly  roll  away,  and  he  entered  the  sacred  hall  and  re- 
leased the  willing  cucuyos  which  fluttered  about  the 
spacious  room  revealing  wonderful  objects  upon  every 
side  in  the  heavy  threatening  silence;  the  wierd  flashes 
of  light,  and  the  three  ghastly  skeletons  lying  side  by  side 
caused  a  spasm  of  pain  to  contract  his  heart  as  he  gazed 
earnestly  and  reverently  upon  them.  He  forgot  his 
thirst  and  all  else  save  the  still  outlines  of  she  who  had 


1  86  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

given  him  an  earthly  existence;  he  seemed  to  feel  her 
power  and  spiritual  presence  more  rapturously  than  ever 
before,  and  he  knelt  down  in  the  dust  of  the  marble  floor 
and  offered  up  the  first  prayer  that  had  ascended  from 
that  sacred  room  since  noble  Hueman  besought  the  Su- 
preme Deity  to  grant  him  immunity  from  Being  born 
again. 

After  his  devotion  he  arose  more  hopeful,  more  con- 
fident of  ultimate  success  in  regaining  his  coveted  liberty, 
and  as  he  wandered  through  the  spacious  room  and  into 
the  second  one  he  heard  a  sound  of  gurgling  falling 
water,  and  he  eagerly  followed  the  inviting  murmur  until 
his  glad  eyes  rested  upon  a  limpid  stream  at  the  base  of  a 
towering  boulder,  which  to  him  was  heaven-sent. 

Relieved  and  refreshed,  he  ventured  to  the  chamber  of 
wealth  and  death,  and  feasted  his  astonished  eyes  upon 
the  magnificent  monuments  of  the  Toltec  treasures.  He 
could  scarcely  believe  the  evidence  of  his  own  senses,  as 
he  examined  the  lavish  array  which  surrounded  him  in 
such  marvelous  profusion  awaiting  the  longed  for  appear- 
ance of  the  messenger  from  the  sun. 

Upon  a  beautifully  carved  table  of  onyx  he  beheld  an 
object  which  riveted  his  attention,  and  as  he  drew  nearer 
he  was  startled,  for  there  lay  a  volume  addressed  to  him- 
self. With  a  strange  mingling  of  emotions  he  opened 
the  sealed  documents  which  had  been  carefully  prepared 
by  the  last  act  of  the  prophet,  Hueman.  Upon  a  separate 
leaf  were  inscribed  these  words :  "Meconetzin,  son  of 
Maguey,  to  you  I  dedicate  this  volume,  containing  the 
concluding  chapters  of  the  Teoamoxtli,  of  which  the  first 
portion  is  in  the  hands  of  Huemac  to  be  kept  in  the  pos- 
session of  each  ruling  Toltec  power.  You  will  find  my 
time-bowed  tenement  of  clay  beside  that  of  my  nearest 
kin  and  that  of  your  queen  mother.  Our  spirits  will  pro- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  1  8/ 

tect  you  and  guide  you  hither  to  this  buried  palace  of  un- 
measured wealth.  And  here  guide  the  messenger  from 
the  sun  when  he  arrives,  for  no  earthly  power  can 
oppress  his  supreme  sway.  Should  the  time  ever  come 
that  you  can  make  use  of  a  portion  of  this  wealth  to 
benefit  a  new  kingdom  and  thereby  increase  it,  do  so  in 
the  name  of  our  blessed  savior — Quetzalcoahtl. 

"Keep  your  thoughts  pure,  Meconetzin,  for  they  are 
things  which  influence  your  entire  actions  and  being,  and 
will  build  an  impregnable  barrier  about  you  which  will 
protect  your  physical  being  and  keep  you  from  falling  a 
prey  to  evil  power. 

"I  hereby  inscribe  myself  the  author  of  the  Teoamoxtli, 
and  the  Toltec  prophet  and  high  priest  Hueman." 

The  prince  gathered  up  the  precious  documents  and  re- 
turned to  the  upper  chamber  more  composed,  more  hope- 
ful of  ultimate  success,  and  he  hugged  the  precious  treas- 
ure to  his  bosom  in  an  ecstacy  of  gratitude  for  having 
been  secretly  led  to  the  longed  for  missing  numbers  of  the 
Teoamoxtli. 


1 88  JTHE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

BY  special  appointment  a  new  officer  was  chosen  to  take 
charge  of  the  army,  who  was  a  splendid  specimen  of  Chi^ 
chimeca  manhood,  and  the  doubt  which  had  lingered  in 
the  minds  of  the  people  as  to  which  one  should  become 
the  martyr  was  soon  cleared  away,  by  the  younger  man 
having  been  chosen ;  but  he  was  assured  that  if  the  form- 
erly appointed  Tezcatlipoca  returned — as  they  fondly 
hoped  that  he  would  do  after  obeying  the  divine  injunc- 
tions of  the  immortal  spirit  whom  he  represented — that 
all  things  would  be  carried  out  as  previously  planned. 

The  important  day  arrived  for  the  nuptials  to  be  sol- 
emnized, and  as  the  former  appointed  victim  did  not  put 
in  an  appearance  the  great  high  priest  urged  the  king  to 
waive  all  conflicting  opinions  and  advance  an  amendment 
which  should  compel  the  newly  recruited  officer  to  be- 
come the  bridegroom  of  the  four  young  ladies  chosen 
for  the  occasion,  and  he  was  arrayed  in  a  new  robe  less 
elegant  than  usual,  having  been  hurriedly  prepared  for 
him. 

Before  the  ceremony  began  the  high  priest  solemnly  as- 
sured the  attentive  multitude  that  the  former  victim  to 
the  sun-god  had  overstepped  the  bounds  of  authority 
granted  to  him,  and  thus  incurred  the  enmity  of  the  Su- 
preme Tezcatlipoca,  who  had  become  so  incensed  at  his 
brazen  assertions  that  he  would  not  allow  him  the  honor 
of  becoming  a  victim  to  the  sacrifice  dedicated  to  the  sun, 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  189 

and  had  inveigled  him  to  the  haunted  cavern  to  be  de- 
voured by  those  huge  animals  that  had  taken  up  their 
abode  there,  which  was  a  just  and  righteous  punishment 
for  his  denouncing  their  faith. 

The  new  Tezcatlipoca,  under  the  exhiliarating  influence 
of  liberal  potations  of  octli,  gave  himself  up  to  the  in- 
evitable with  apparent  resignation,  and  reveled  in  the 
adoration  bestowed  upon  him  by  his  four  wives  during 
the  fifteen  days  honeymoon. 

The  seventeenth  day  of  May  arrived,  and  the  lords  and 
nobles  brought  fine  new  robes  in  which  they  arrayed  the 
idol,  keeping  the  old  ones  as  a  relic  in  a  certain  portion 
of  the  temple.  Thev  also  adorned  the  idol  with  insignias 
of  gold  and  gems  and  beautiful  feathers,  and  then  they 
elevated  the  doors  of  the  temple  that  all  might  see  and 
admire  its  imposing  appearance.  All  of  the  people  who 
could  do  so  crowded  into  the  temple,  and  thousands  were 
compelled  to  remain  upon  the  outside.  Some  of  the 
priests  painted  black  and  dressed  like  the  idol,  placed  it 
upon  a  litter  which  was  festooned  with  garlands  of  pop- 
corn, which  was  a  symbol  of  drouth — the  most  feared  and 
dreaded  of  nature's  elements. 

The  most  prominent  persons,  old  and  young,  who  were 
permitted  to  join  the  procession,  were  also  adorned  with 
strings  of  popcorn  which  they  wound  about  their  necks 
and  arms.  The  procession  started  from  the  upper  hall 
and  slowly  descended  to  the  lower  one  which  was  liber- 
ally strewn  with  flowers  and  sweet  scented  herbs. 

The  priests  removed  the  litter  from  their  shoulders  at 
intervals  to  incense  the  idol,  also  the  victim  who  followed 
next  to  them,  and  in  the  meantime  the  people  all  knelt 
down  and  scourged  themselves  with  thick  knotted  ropes 
of  ixtla. 

After  the  procession  had  returned  to  the  temple  the 


IQO  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

idol  was  placed  upon  the  altar  to  receive  presents  of  gold, 
silver,  jewels,  feathers,  etc.,  and  dainty  viands.  The  latter 
were  prepared  by  the  young  ladies  who  served  in  the 
temple,  and  some  privileged  young  men  were  permitted 
to  carry  the  tempting  luxuries  to  the  dwelling  of  the 
priests. 

The  victim  was  then  commanded  to  bid  farewell  to  his 
four  wives,  and  he  was  immediately  hurled  upon  the  mar- 
tyr-stone, and  the  great  high  priest,  after  a  protracted 
supplication,  proceeded  to  perform  his  barbarous  task. 
At  its  conclusion  came  the  most  distinguished  ball  of  the 
season,  to  which  the  lords,  nobles  and  students  were  all 
invited  by  the  king  and  priests. 

At  sunset  the  priestesses  made  an  offering  to  the  god 
of  hunger,  Apizteotl,  which  consisted  of  bread  thoroughly 
kneaded  with  honey,  and  also  many  other  dainty  dishes, 
appropriate  to  the  occasion,  which  they  placed  before  the 
altar,  and  which  were  promised  to  the  young  men  who 
became  victorious  in  first  reaching  the  coveted  feast  by 
running  around  and  through  the  temple  at  a  given  signal 
from  the  priest;  the  foremost  and  victorious  brave  re- 
ceived as  a  special  reward,  besides  the  dainties  which 
were  served  to  them,  some  handsome  garments,  and  was 
greatly  honored  by  all. 

The  grand  festivities  were  drawn  to  a  close  by  granting 
the  permission  to  all  of  the  eligible  young  people  to  leave 
the  seminaries  and  get  married  if  they  chose  to  do  so,  all 
who  had  served  the  allotted  time  of  five  years.  Those 
who  chose  to  remain  in  servitude  made  great  sport  of 
those  leaving,  and  amused  themselves  by  hurling  show- 
ers of  herbs  upon  them,  and  saluted  them  sarcastically 
for  wisKing  to  leave  the  service  of  the  gods. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

NIGHT  had  unfolded  her  silent  curtain,  and  the  busy 
hum  of  the  excited  populace  had  died  away  in  the  quiet 
of  their  abodes  when  Xolotli,  who  had  managed  to  outwit 
the  guards  who  had  indulged  in  liberal  allowances  of 
octli,  which  was  always  their  privilege  upon  such  occa- 
sions, tremblingly  approached  the  outer  wall  of  the  cav- 
ern and  gave  the  peculiar  signal  known  only  to  the  Toltec 
fraternity,  whose  secrets  the  grim  sacrifice  could  never 
wring  from  the  sealed  lips  of  a  solitary  slave,  and  which 
aroused  Meconetzin  from  a  troubled  slumber.  He 
bounded  to  his  feet  and  hurried  to  the  entrance,  well 
knowing  that  a  brotherly  friend  was  near,  and  he  answer- 
ed the  challenge  and  welcomed  Xolotli,  bidding  him  as- 
cend the  parapet  and  enter  the  cavern  until  they  could 
decide  upon  the  most  feasible  manner  of  making  their 
escape ;  but  Xolotli  answered  him  thus : 

"Prince  Meconetzin,  I  would  willingly  risk  my  life  in 
greater  peril  than  I  am  now  undertaking ;  or  which 
may  be  necessary  before  our  liberty  is  accomplished; 
and  I  will  valiantly  prove  to  you  my  true  devotion  to  our 
brotherhood  of  whom  you  are  now  our  chief  and  legiti- 
mate king,  and  also  to  our  lost  cause.  But,  really,  I 
have  not  the  depth  of  moral  courage  to  enter  that  cavern, 
and  as  long  as  it  is  not  a  matter  of  moment  to  you,  I 
humbly  trust  that  you  will  excuse  me  from  so  doing.  I 
have  brought  you  some  substantial  food,  and  if  you  will 
descend  the  stairway  I  will  gladly  deliver  it  to  you." 


192  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"Thank  you  kindly,  Xolotli,  I  am  deeply  grateful  to 
you  for  your  thoughtfulness.  I  certainly  feel  the  need 
of  other  nourishment  than  the  life  sustaining  herb;  but, 
really,  Xolotli,  I  am  indeed  sorry  to  see  a  Toltec  brother 
so  degenerated  by  the  influences  of  the  ignorant  and  bar- 
barous Chichimecas  as  to  hesitate  to  follow  where  I  may 
lead." 

"Oh,  my  Prince,  if  you  command  me  to  enter  the  cav- 
ern you  shall  be  obeyed." 

"No,  no,  I  do  not  and  shall  not  command  you,  Xolotli, 
but  I  am  sorry  to  see  the  bent  of  your  inclination;  it 
makes  me  fear  that  the  day  may  come  when  the  sweet 
and  gentle  influence  of  our  self-martyred  Savior  will  be 
lost!  It  seems  to  be  waning  now  under  the  barbarous 
methods  of  these  people  and  among  our  own  race,  and  it 
grieves  me.  The  brotherhood  existing  here  has  no  chance 
to  hold  secret  meetings  has  it,  Xolotli?" 

"Not  under  the  present  system  of  surveillance — not 
since  a  meeting  was  surprised  and  each  member  was  put 
to  a  horrible  torture  to  compel  him  to  divulge  the  secret 
object  of  that  meeting — but  every  one  of  them  died  un- 
der the  terrible  torture  with  sealed  tongues." 

"Oh,  how  pitiful!  May  our  Quetzalcoahtl  preserve 
them  henceforth  and  forever !  Since  coming  here  I  have 
had  so  much  quiet  thought  and  also  deep  regret  that  I 
could  learn  nothing  concerning  the  fate  of  our  golden  gar- 
den for  the  sun-god,  although  I  tried  by  every  conceivable 
measure  to  learn  something  without  exciting  further  sus- 
picion on  account  of  the  dastardly  charge  made  against 
me  by  Topiltzin,  but  all  of  my  efforts  were  unavailing. 
Can  you  tell  me  anything  regarding  it?" 

"Only  that  the  gardner's  son  once  lamented  in  my 
presence  the  sacrilegious  act  which  he  had  to  do  in  con- 
verting some  of  the  statuary  and  shrubbery  from  that 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  1 93 

precious  garden  into  trifling  articles,  and  I  very  much 
fear  that  it  is  or  was  the  signal  for  the  destruction  of  all 
of  those  precious  relics,  for  these  ignorant  people  would 
like  to  impress  posterity  with  their  wisdom,  and  would 
rather  destroy  any  traditional  landmark  of  our  people 
than  preserve  it;  or  at  least  change  them  in  such  a 
manner  that  they  would  be  utterly  unrecognizable." 

"Alas,  I  feared  as  much,  and  my  soul  is  filled  with  in- 
dignation that  I  am  unable  to  save  them  from  those  de- 
structive people ;  but  we  will  not  linger,  Xolotli,  we  must 
strive  to  make  a  start  at  once,  and  there  is  one  thing  which 
troubles  me  greatly,  and  that  is  this  odd  and  conspicuous 
robe.  How  may  I  ever  expect  to  escape  in  this  bright  yel- 
low and  heavily  embroidered  garment  with  its  glinting 
golden  fringe?" 

"Oh  my  Prince,  you  give  me  but  little  credit  for  fore- 
thought; I  have  brought  you  a  garment  such  as  is  worn 
by  the  herb  gatherers,  who  are  all  Toltecs,  for  no  Chichi- 
meca  has  yet  been  able  to  comprehend  the  difference  be- 
tween herbs  and  would  make  a  sorry  decoction  if  left  to 
his  own  device.  You  see  that  I  have  on  the  dress  of  a 
full- fledged  Chichimeca  guard — which  outfit  I  have  been 
a  long  time  in  arranging  with  the  aid  of  Hatsutl,  the  wife 
of  the  gardner  whom  we  visited  upon  that  fatal  night — I 
have  kept  it  in  readiness  for  the  moment  when  you  should 
make  your  escape,  as  you  declared  you  would  do  the  last 
time  we  met.  In  this  manner  we  may  be  able  to  travel 
over  a  great  portion  of  Tenochititlan  unmolested,  for  I 
can  so  disguise  you  that  you  cannot  be  recognized — I 
hardly  believe  that  you  would  have  known  me  to  be  even 
a  Toltec  if  you  had  seen  me  before  I  gave  the  challenge?" 

"Quite  true  indeed,  you  have  almost  wrought  a  miracle 
in  transformation,  and  if  you  can  do  as  well  for  me  I 


194  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

shall  have  no  fears  and  will  believe  that    we    may    soon 
breathe  the  free  air  of  the  new  Tollan." 

"May  the  good  spirits  of  Tollantzingo  aid  us  as  they 
did  the  pilgrims  who  founded  the  new  Tollan." 

The  prince  bade  him  tarry  until  he  returned,  and 
mounting  the  hewn  stairway,  he  passed  through  the  cav- 
ern and  down  to  the  treasure  palace,  and  he  knelt  beside 
the  remains  of  those  whom  his  memory  cherished  and 
poured  forth  a  fervant  petition  for  aid  and  guidance 
through  the  perils  of  his  coming  journey  and  breathed  a 
fervent  wish  that  he  might  be  enabled  to  recover  the  lost 
Tollan  and  make  good  use  of  the  vast  wealth  so  securely 
hidden  from  the  conquerors.  He  cast  a  lingering  farewell 
upon  the  scenes  of  splendor  and  death  and  passed  through 
the  ingenious  portal,  which  he  carefully  forced  back  into 
its  socket  and  trailed  the  vines  across  it  as  before. 

He  secured  the  volume  written  by  Hueman  in  the  folds 
of  his  girdle  and  divested  the  prolific  herb  of  every  leaf 
;and  blossom,  which  he  secured  in  a  compact  form  and 
fastened  upon  his  person.  Then  he  descended  the  decliv- 
aty  and  joined  the  anxious  slave,  and  they  started  upon 
the  hazarous  journey  while  Quetzalcoahtl  gleamed  ten- 
derly upon  them. 

Both  being  fleet  of  foot  they  made  considerable  pro- 
gress before  the  first  glimpse  of  day  broke  in  opalescent 
shafts  upon  the  grand  old  crests  of  the  towering  moun- 
tains, which  warned  them  to  seek  some  safe  retreat  until 
they  broke  their  fast  and  they  considered  it  more  expe- 
dient to  remain  in  seclusion  during  the  day  until  they 
were  far  from  the  city.  The  only  shelter  which  present- 
ed itself  to  view  was  the  waving  branches  of  a  stately  cy- 
press tree,  and  they  quickly  ascended  it  and  concealed 
themselves  therein. 

The  glaring  heat  of  the  broiling  sun  beating  down  up- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

on  them  mercilessly  nearly  overpowered  them  and  caused 
a  tantalizing  thirst  to  assail  them,  made  more  imperative 
by  the  shimmering  glimpse  of  a  waste  of  water  bordered 
by  the  shores  of  a  beautiful  lake. 

Flights  of  birds  sailed  screaming  above  them  and  some 
glad  warblers  poised  their  graceful  little  forms  upon  the 
farthest  branches  of  the  sheltering  tree  and  coquettishly 
plumed  their  elegant  robes  of  bright  hues  and  then  burst 
forth  in  glad  notes  of  greeting,  which  caused  Meconetzin 
to  vaguely  wonder  if  the  soul  of  gentle  Hueman  had  in- 
spired the  effort.  They  envied  them  their  power  to  glide 
the  heavens,  while  their  hearts  were  cheered  and  grateful 
for  their  song. 

At  the  close  of  the  day  they  were  alarmed  to  see  a  band 
of  warriors  approaching,  and  they  made  their  way  direct- 
ly under  the  tree  wherein  they  were  sheltered  and  their 
consternation  increased  when  they  saw  that  it  was  none 
other  than  treacherous  Topiltzin  and  his  followers.  They 
halted  and  engaged  eagerly  in  conversation,  which  re- 
vealed the  fact  that  they  were  waiting  to  meet  some  one 
from  Tenochititlan  by  special  appointment. 

The  refugees  were  keenly  alive  to  the  shadowy  chance 
which  stood  between  them  and  escape,  for  one  upward, 
suspicious  glance  from  the  baleful  eyes  of  the  traitor 
would  reveal  their  presence,  and  it  seemed  to  them  that 
the  mad  throbbing  of  their  indignant  hearts  might  be 
heard  by  the  cowardly  crew. 

Meconetzin  avoided  a  solitary  glance  toward  Xolotli, 
whom  he  knew  was  convulsed  with  nervous  terror !  Twi- 
light never  appeared  so  far  away  nor  so  deliberate  in  ar- 
ranging her  drapery.  Suddenly  their  attention  was  rivet- 
ed upon  an  approaching  warrior,  who  hurried  forward 
and  saluted  Topiltzin;  he  was  recognized  by  Xolotli  as 
the  gardner's  son,  who  exclaimed: 


196  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"You  see,  Topiltzin,  that  I  have  managed  to  keep  good 
my  word ;  now  how  about  yours  ?" 

"First  tell  me  about  the  sacrifice;  have  the  festivities 
ended?" 

"They  have." 

"The  gods  be  praised !  then  I  have  no  earthly  rival  to 
fear!" 

"Not  quite  so  positive  of  that;  the  young  prince  out- 
witted the  priests,  guards,  and  all  of  the  king's  people  by 
escaping  to  the  haunted  cavern  after  fasting  for  moons 
and  moons,  it  is  said." 

"My  eternal  curses  be  upon  those  blundering  guards! 
why  did  they  not  follow  him  there?" 

"Follow  him  to  the  haunted  cavern?  ye  gods!  they 
would  sooner  attempt  to  follow  him  barefooted  on  coals 
of  fire!" 

"Are  you  sure  /hat  he  is  hiding  there  ?" 

"No,  I  am  not  sure  of  anything;  I  believe  that  he  is  no 
more  human  than  those  black,  shaggy  animals  which 
haunt  the  cavern,  and  the  priests  declare  that  he  has  been 
devoured  by  them.  No  chieftain,  I  am  not  sure  of  any- 
thing, no,  not  even  your  promise  to  me ;  why  did  you  not 
bring  the  maiden?" 

"She  was  very  ill  and  could  not  undertake  the  journey, 
but  she  shall  be  returned  to  you ;  I  am  now  on  my  way  to 
the  new  Tollan  to  wed  my  sweet  princess  Centeotl.  You 
have  brought  me  the  key,  have  you  not?" 

"Yes,  and  I  have  labored  early  and  late  to  complete  it 
undiscovered,  and  my  friends  do  say  that  it  is  an  exact 
counterpart  of  the  one  which  is  lost — I  have  been  afraid 
to  carry  it  upon  my  person  since  I  have  completed  it,  for 
the  rumor  has  been  verified  that  the  original  one  is  lost 
or  spirited  away,  and  I  would  lose  my  heart  if  it  were 
ifound  on  me." 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"Can  it  be  possible  that  he  has  really  outwitted  me  too ! 
Can  he  have  obtained  the  true  one  ?  Oh,  what  a  beastly 
stupid  lot  those  Chichimecas  are — if  I  had  only  thought 
of  this  recent  plan  before,  I  would  have  informed — or  I 
mean  I  would  have  acted  differently  from  the  first — give 
me  the  key?" 

"But  why  shall  I  deliver  this  key  to  you  until  you  have 
done  that  which  you  promised  me  you  would  do  ?  Lead  me 
to  the  maiden  whom  I  so  dearly  love  and  I  will  at  once 
deliver  up  the  key." 

"Fool !  do  not  provoke  me ;  do  you  imagine  for  a  mo- 
men  that  we  care  to  be  encumbered  with  that  love-sick 
squaw  of  a  Chichimeca?  You  are  indeed  grateful  to  me 
for  having  risked  my  life  to  rescue  her  from  that  savage 
horde  of  Tezcocans." 

"Here  take  the  key;  I  am  ashamed  to  doubt  you,  but 
you  did  impose  upon  me  at  first,  when  you  represented 
yourself  to  be  the  true  prince,  until  Xolotli  revealed  your 
true  identity  to  me — but  that  was  after  I  had  given  you 
my  promise,  and  a  loyal  Toltec  never  goes  back  on  his 
word.  I  did  cause  my  father  and  friends  to  believe  that 
this  key  was  to  replace  the  one  which  was  lost  or  stolen 
in  order  to  save  the  guard's  life,  who  was  given  a  certain 
length  of  time  to  replace  it,  but  he  was  chosen  to  take  the 
place  of  the  prince  at  the  sacrifice  and  it  makes  no  possi- 
ble difference  with  him  now.  Do  you  observe  how  care- 
fully I  managed  to  give  it  age." 

"Oh,  I  guess  it  is  all  right;  one  key  is  as  good  as  an- 
other when  it  answers  my  purpose — Meconetzin  can  nev- 
er escape  from  that  cavern,  or  if  he  does  attempt  it,  he 
will  surely  be  captured,  being  now  so  widely  known 
throughout  the  kingdom,  for  he  has  no  braves  to  protect 
him" 

"Oh,  it  is  cruel,  very,  very  heartless  and  cruel,  the 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

manner  in  which  you  betrayed  him — I  do  see  it  all  now — 
you  never  could  have  persuaded  his  men  to  join  you  if 
you  had  not  sworn  to  the  lie,  declaring  that  he  had  been 
captured  while  on  the  way  to  my  father's  house.  I  shall 
never  cease  to  regret  the  ignoble  part  which  I  unwitting- 
ly played  and  shall  constantly  beseech  of  the  gods  to  for- 
give me;  but  my  gratitude  for  the  great  service  which 
you  have  rendered  me  in  rescuing  my  loved  one  from  that 
marauding  band  and  caring  for  her  needs  until  I  can 
claim  her — that  is  the  only  thing  which  could  ever  have 
tempted  me  to  be  urged  into  this  disgraceful  act  of  pre- 
paring a  duplicate  key." 

"Odds  is  the  difference  to  me,  you  are  quite  comely; 
what  if  they  choose  you  for  the  next  Tezcatlipoca  ?" 

"I  am  the  best  jeweler  in  all  of  the  Chichimeca  king- 
dom, and  I  think  that  they  would  not  willingly  dispense 
with  my  services — but  tell  me — how  am  I  to  manage 
about  the  maiden  ?  Being  ill,  as  you  say,  and  you  starting 
upon  your  homeward  journey,  what  will  become  of  her? 
I  told  you  that  I  dare  not  wander  further  up  the  lake 
than  here,  and  I  have  promised  her  anxious  parents  that 
she  shall  be  restored  to  them  at  once,  for  I  had  informed 
them  of  your  willingness  to  pursue  the  search  for  her, 
and  told  them,  too,  of  your  success  in  so  doing,  and  now 
what  am  I  to  do?" 

"Tell  them  exactly  what  I  have  told  you,  dolt.  My 
mother  has  charge  of  her  and  she  will  undoubtedly  be 
better  tomorrow,  and  you  can  come  here  again  at  this 
time  and  I  will  leave  an  escort  to  bring  her  here  to  meet 
you.  I  shall  push  on  with  all  possible  speed  to  the  new 
Tollan ;  I  have  already  sent  a  runner  to  announce  to  king 
.Nouhyotl  the  death  of  the  prince." 

"But  he  is  not  dead !" 

"I  am  not  supposed  to  know  that,  besides,  he  cannot 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  1 99 

escape,  if  he  does  he  shall  never  reach  the  new  Toltec 
kingdom,  I  will  see  to  it  that  he  never  does" 

"Oh,  do  not  harm  him !  I  implore  you  do  not,  how  can 
you  have  a  drop  of  Toltec  blood  in  your  veins  and  possess 
such  an  inhuman  soul.  You  are  now  armed  with  a 
weapon  which  will  deprive  him  of  his  sweetheart,  and  if 
he  loves  her  one  half  as  well  as  I  do  mine,  the  punishment 
of  losing  her  will  be  worse  than  death  in  any  form.  But 
you  will  surely  send  my  love  to  me  tomorrow  ?" 

"If  she  can  come,  she  shall,  yes,  rest  assured  of  that 
fact,  and  if  she  is  unable  to  tomorrow  I  will  see  that  she 
is  well  cared  for  until  she  can  make  the  journey  and  will 
detail  a  runner  to  meet  you  here  at  all  events." 

"Thank  you  kindly,  please  say  to  her  some  cheerful 
words  for  me — and  now  farewell,  I  must  be  gone  to  ex- 
plain her  continued  absence  to  her  anxious  parents." 

"Farewell,  I  wish  you  joy  with  your  sweetheart," 
"when  you  get  her,"  he  added  under  his  breath,  as  the 
trusting  slave  departed. 

"Now  my  men,  we  will  away,  our  line  of  march  leads 
directly  homeward,"  and  suiting  the  action  to  the  words, 
they  hurried  out  from  under  the  cypress  tree  and  were 
soon  lost  to  view. 

With  glad  relief  the  anxious  refugees  descended  from 
the  sheltering  boughs  and  bounded  toward  the  shores  of 
the  lake  to  quench  their  terrible  thirst. 

"Xolotli,  my  very  soul  is  famishing  for  want  of  sleep. 
I  will  lay  me  down  a  spell  while  you  stand  guard,  and 
then  I  will  relieve  you  on  the  watch  while  you  too  enjoy 
a  nap." 

"Do  so  Meconetzin,  and  have  a  sleep,  for  my  eyes  are 
propped  with  nervous  fears  and  all  of  my  senses  are  alert 
upon  these  dangerous  grounds." 

Despite  his  boast,  Xolotli's  fears  and  fancies  became 


2OO  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

strangely  intermingled,  courted  by  the  soporific  melody  of 
the  rippling  waters  which  laved  the  pebbled  beach,  and 
gleaming  Quetzalcoahtl  gazed  down  in  pity  upon  the 
two  sleeping  pilgrims.  When  the  prince  awoke,  he  smil- 
ed upon  the  tired  slave,  whose  eyes  were  no  longer  prop- 
ped with  nervous  fears. 

Roving  bands  of  Xochimilcas,  Tezcocans  and  many 
other  lawless  tribes  were  in  constant  activity  and  they 
were  obliged  to  travel  cautiously  and  often  resorted  to 
the  expedient  suggested  by  Xolotli  whenever  a  band 
came  near,  especially  the  Chichimecas. 

The  prince  chafed  at  the  necessary  delay,  although  the 
year  had  passed  and  the  king  had  said  that  at  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time  the  conditions  of  the  contract  would  be- 
come null  and  void;  yet  the  desperate  thought  was  ever 
present  that  there  would  be  no  one  to  contradict  the  un- 
scrupulous statements  of  prevaricating  Topiltzin,  and  it 
nerved  the  prince  to  greater  exertion  than  his  constitu- 
tion could  endure. 

When  they  were  well  out  of  the  Chichimeca  realm  he 
attempted  to  walk  night  and  day  with  but  short  intervals 
of  rest,  and  thus  at  the  expiration  of  about  two  moons  he 
was  warned  by  the  fast  failing  powers  to  desist  and  hast- 
en slowly;  but  he  heeded  not  the  imperative  cry  of 
wounded  nature  and  strove  to  buoy  up  poor  Xolotli  with 
encouragement,  that  he  might  forget  his  own  failing 
strength.  He  was  forced  to  give  up,  and  he  sank  under 
the  rays  of  the  scorching  sun,  which  seemed  deliberately 
focused  upon  him;  Xolotli  was  terror  stricken  when  he 
saw  his  fainting  form  prone  upon  the  earth,  but  he  man- 
aged to  carry  him  to  the  welcome  shelter  of  an  olive  tree 
and  showered  water  upon  his  still  face  and  fanned  him 
back  to  life.  The  attack  was  followed  by  a  raging  fever, 
and  it  was  several  days  before  he  was  sufficiently  recov- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2OI 

ered  to  continue  his  tedious  journey,  which  caused  his 
fears  to  become  tantalizing  in  the  extreme. 

Xolotli  had  learned,  while  making  his  previous  escape, 
that  the  same  king  ruled  at  Tetlilicuan  who  reigned  when 
the  wandering  band  of  Toltecs  had  made  it  their  halting 
place  when  they  fled  from  their  native  land,  and  it  was 
there  that  they  had  left  their  wounded,  aged  and  infirm 
people  at  the  generous  king's  invitation,  and  he  hoped  to 
aid  the  suffering  prince  to  that  haven,  where  he  would 
endeavor  to  persuade  him  to  remain  while  he  should 
press  on  to  the  new  Tollan  and  contradict  the  false  state- 
ments of  Topiltzin,  in  order  to  prevent  the  untimely  mar- 
riage. 

When  he  unfolded  his  plans  to  the  prince,  he  was  pleas- 
ed and  relieved  to  hear  him  promise  to  submit  to  his  sug- 
gestion. 

King  Icoatzin,  the  wise  ruler  of  Tetlilicuan,  was  a  di- 
rect descendent  of  the  great  Chalchiutlanctzin,  who  rul- 
ed the  kingdom  of  Huehuetlapallan,  which  was  founded 
by  prince  Cukulcan  under  the  direction  of  the  intrepid 
founder  of  the  Toltec  race,  Votan. 

The  travelers  were  warmly  welcomed  by  the  hospit- 
able king  of  Tetlilicuan,  who  took  pride  in  showing  his 
distinguished  guest  every  attention  and  courtesy  which 
his  rank  merited,  and  he  furnished  him  and  Xolotli  with 
plenty  of  suitable  clothing  of  which  they  were  greatly  in 
need  and  then  he  insisted  upon  sending  an  armed  escort 
with  the  slave  to  the  new  Tollan  kingdom  to  apprise  King 
Nouhyotl  of  the  deception  being  practiced  upon  him  by 
the  subtle  and  unprincipaled  Topiltzin. 

After  Meconetzin  had  related  his  terrible  experience 
among  the  conquerors,  king  Icoatzin  enquired : 

"Mow  have  the  Chichimecas  prospered  since  their  dar- 
ing victory?" 


2O2  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"They  have  grafted  upon  their  barbarous  forms  of 
worship  all  of  the  gentle  ones  taught  by  our  people,  and 
they  toil  early  and  late  to  carry  them  into  execution. 
Their  victorious  achievement  excited  an  ambition  within 
their  ignorant  bosoms  which  they  have  not  as  yet  learned 
how  to  manage,  and  I  question  if  they  ever  will. 

"Our  colleges  which  were  the  seat  of  learning,  where 
all  of  the  arts  and  sciences  were  taught  by  our  wise  and 
good  priests,  are  now  given  over  for  the  abodes  of  their 
ignorant  priests,  who  have  had  gods  molded  for  every- 
thing, and  if  it  were  not  for  the  element  of  thrift  among 
the  Toltec  slaves,  they  would  certainly  relapse  into  worse 
profligacy  than  ever.  The  Toltec  priests,  who  were  taken 
prisoners  at  the  fall  of  Tollantzingo  taught  them  forms 
of  government  and  judiciously  endeavored  to  instil  the 
germs  of  civilization  within  them  and  their  heroic  efforts 
were  not  entirely  lost  upon  them,  but  they  chose  men 
from  among  their  people  who  were  instructed  as  priests 
and  they  saw  many  visions  and  dreampt  many  dreams 
which  were  prolific  of  promoting  their  selfish  interest 
while  impressing  the  ignorant  multitude  with  a  latent 
show  of  knowledge.  The  absurd  tendency  has  reached 
such  mammoth  proportions  that  their  religious  mockery 
consumes  every  hour  of  the  day  and  reaches  far  into  the 
night  in  many  instances,  and  the  farce  leaves  no  room  for 
anything  else  to  be  accomplished,  except  by  the  slaves, 
and  I  verily  believe  that  the  only  reason  that  they  do  not 
add  more  to  them  is  that  time  limits  them  to  those." 

"In  that  case  Meconetzin,  I  firmly  believe  in  the  proph- 
esies of  noble-minded  Hueman,  which  have  been  related 
to  me  by  your  people  who  remained  here.  The  Chichi- 
mecas  have  never  discharged  a  single  obligation  which 
they  promised  to  the  other  nations,  who  thus  joined  with 
them  to  conquer  the  Toltecs,  and  this  fact  has  aroused  a 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

deep  rebellious  spirit  which  threatens    eruption    at    the 
slightest  provocation." 

"Very  true  indeed,  and  they  have  burdened  their  allies 
with  such  heavy  tributes  yearly  that  they  have  become 
very  indignant  and  resentful,  and  I  hardly  believe  they 
will  bear  the  yoke  much  longer.  I  am  amazed  and  griev- 
ed at  the  demoralizing  influence  exercised  by  the  con- 
querers  and  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  it  has  not  been  lost 
even  upon  the  slaves.  To  be  sure  there  will  always  cling 
to  them  some  of  the  arts  and  sciences  which  they  in  their 
love  of  display  will  encourage,  but  the  children's  children 
of  the  enlightened  slaves  will,  I  fear,  narrow  down  to  a 
level  with  those  savages  about  them;  their  minds  cannot 
improve  when  every  element  of  advancement  is  conspir- 
ed against  their  progression." 

In  the  seclusion  of  the  room  alloted  to  him,  the  prince 
read  and  reread  the  precious  documents  concluding  the 
Teoamoxtli,  and  his  indignation  was  boundless  when  he 
read  that  portion  relating  to  the  sufferings  of  his  revered 
mother,  facts  which  had  been  grossly  misrepresented  by 
designing  Ezcolotl,  assertions  of  vile  import  which  had 
been  hurled  at  him  by  her  malicious  tongue  to  humble  his 
proud  spirit  and  humiliate  his  loyal  soul  were  there  ex- 
plained. As  the  time  drew  near  for  the  return  of  Xolotli 
he  became  nervous  and  anxious,  a  dim  foreboding  of 
coming  grief  or  evil  overshadowed  him  and  as  his  gen- 
eral health  had  greatly  improved,  he  resolved  to  start  up- 
on the  journey  homeward  as  soon  as  Xolotli  should  re- 
turn and  take  a  sufficient  breathing  spell  to  enable  him  to 
again  make  the  jaunt. 

The  moment  that  he  did  arrive  the  prince  saw  at  a 
glance  that  something  grave  and  unusual  had  disturbed 
him,  and  king  Icoatzin  rallied  him  upon  his  inability  to 


2O4  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

endure  so  long  a  march  without  proper  rest,  but  the  un- 
daunted Xolotli  made  haste  to  explain : 

"We  were  not  permitted  an  audience  with  the  king,  for 
brazen  Topiltzin  pompously  informed  us  that  all  of  the 
affairs  of  the  kingdom  were  entrusted  to  his  management 
and  declared  that  the  king  was  too  ill  to  admit  any  one 
into  his  presence." 

"And  you  entrusted  my  messages  to  him,  Xolotli?" 

"My  Prince,  I  was  obliged  to  do  so  after  waiting  two 
days  to  see  one  of  the  royal  family  or  their  servants  whom 
I  had  hoped  that  I  might  trust,  but  I  waited  in  vain,  for 
a  terrible  calamity  has  befallen  the  royal  family  and  when 
I  became  assured  that  it  was  not  a  rumor,  I  went  at  once 
to  the  palace  and  delivered  my  message  from  you,  and 
as  Topiltzin  really  does  represent  the  king  in  his  great 
bereavement,  I  really  had  to  deliver  it  to  him,  and  these 
were  his  answering  words — 'you  go  and  tell  your  prince 
that  I,  being  the  chosen  husband  of  princess  Centeotl 
and  heir  to  the  throne  of  the  New  Tollan,  advise  him  to 
keep  a  proper  distance  between  himself  and  my  people, 
we  have  no  desire  to  pay  allegiance  to  two  royal  houses/ 
— Then  we  turned  abruptly  away  and  left  him  without 
making  any  reply  and  had  gained  the  outskirts  of  the 
city  when  a  comely  maiden  hastened  toward  us  and  beck- 
oned us  to  halt,  when  she  said : 

"I  am  a  daughter  of  the  powerful  Chichimecas,  and 
that  crafty  villain  with  whom  you  have  just  had  speech 
at  the  palace,  brought  me  here  from  my  beautiful  home 
under  the  solemn  promise  of  marriage.  We  were  wed 
tinder  the  laws  of  my  people,  but  I  was  not  satisfied  until 
he  promised  to  have  a  Toltec  ceremony  when  we  arrived 
here.  I  stole  away  from  my  parents  and  friends  like  a. 
thief  in  the  night  and  joined  him,  but  as  soon  as  we  ar- 
rived here  he  ignored  his  promise  and  declared  to  his 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  20$ 

people  that  I  belonged  to  one  of  his  braves;  and  more, 
he  commanded  one  of  his  men  to  take  me  for  his  wife. 
Ye  gods!  What  have  I  not  suffered!  Then  I  learned 
that  he  contemplated  marriage  with  the  beautiful  prin- 
cess Centeotl,  and  I  vowed  that  I  would  lay  in  wait  and 
secrete  myself  in  the  palace  and  strangle  her  as  she  slept. 
I  did  creep  in  one  night  and  made  my  way  behind  the 
drapery  of  her  couch,  while  my  leaping  pulses  were  burn- 
ing with  fury,  and  my  heart  was  bound  with  bands  of 
searing  hatred  which  kept  it  from  bursting  in  twain,  and 
when  she  came  to  meet  her  doom,  instead  of  wearing  a 
countenance  wreathed  in  smiles,  she  paced  the  floor 
wringing  her  hands  and  murmuring  between  choking  sobs, 
'My  Meconetzin,  dead !  Oh,  Thou  Supreme  Deity,  do  re- 
lease my  spirit  that  I  may  be  with  his ;  oh,  I  implore  Thee 
in  mercy  aid  me  to  escape  from  hated  Topiltzin';  then 
my  clenched  hands  relaxed,  for  you  see  that  I  understand 
your  language  very  well.  I  have  a  lover  in  my  native 
land  who  is  a  Toltec  slave,  and  he  taught  me  his  language, 
and  all  else  in  which  he  could  interest  me  except  to  love 
him  as  he  loved  me,  and  that  I  could  never  learn  to  do 
but  when  Topiltzin  came  he  soon  taught  me  the  sweet 
pleasure  while  he  engaged  the  services  of  my  admirer 
upon  some  difficult  job,  for  he  is  the  best  jeweler  in  all 
of  the  Chichimeca  kingdom.  I  stole  out  of  the  room 
of  the  princess  glad  that  my  hands  were  not  stained  with 
the  dreadful  crime  of  murder.  Upon  the  following  day 
she  went  out  for  a  walk  as  usual,  and  when  she  did  not 
return  the  king  sent  guards  in  all  directions,  and  they 
found  the  dead  bodies  of  the  guards,  who  had  accom- 
panied herself  and  her  maids,  with  Chichimeca  arrows 
pierced  through  their  hearts.  Those  braves  were  certain- 
ly sent  to  rescue  me ;  I  am  sure  that  they  followed  us  here ; 
now  he  is  wild  with  grief,  and  it  does  my  soul  good  to  see 


2O6  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

him  suffer,  knowing  so  well  as  I  what  grief  can  do.  I 
have  come  to  tell  you  all  of  these  things  for  this  one  pur- 
pose"— but  Ezcolotl  sprang  toward  her  at  that  moment 
and  hurried  her  away  before  she  could  make  known  her 
wish  to  us." 

The  prince  seemed  stunned  and  dazed  with  horror, 
grief  and  astonishment.  Several  times  he  attempted  to  in- 
terrupt Xolotli,  who  seemed  unable  to  hesitate  until  his  re- 
markable disclosures  were  all  related.  At  length  the 
prince  managed  to  overcome  his  emotions  sufficiently  to 
say: 

"Then  the  marriage  ceremony  has  not  been  per- 
formed?" 

"No,  my  prince,  Topiltzin  lied  when  he  called  himself 
the  heir  by  marriage.  I  learned  that  from  others,  and  I 
did  speak  in  a  very  loud  and  excited  tone  when  I  delivered 
your  message,  hoping  that  others  of  the  king's  household 
might  hear  it  also,  and  perhaps  contradict  the  report  of 
your  having  been  sacrificed." 

"Oh,  my  friend  and  king,  what  am  I  to  do  ?  This  news 
completely  unnerves  me ;  it  is  worse  than  anything  which 
could  have  happened  to  my  refined  loved  one  to  be  made 
a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  cruel  Chichimecas.  She 
shall  be  released  at  once,  even  if  I  have  to  return  and  sur- 
render myself  as  hostage !" 

"Do  not  worry,  Meconetzin,  the  thought  has  just  oc- 
curred to  me  that  King  Aztec  of  Culhuacan,  who  has  at 
various  times  evinced  a  willingness  to  be  on  friendly 
terms  with  me  and  my  people  will  lend  us  his  aid  in  res- 
cuing the  princess  at  the  time  of  the  festival  to  Tlaloc, 
which  event  takes  place  very  soon.  Invitations  have  al- 
ready been  issued  to  all  of  the  friendly  nations,  the  same 
as  when  your  people  ruled  at  Tollantzingo.  I  have  but 
once  accepted  an  invitation  of  theirs  to  attend,  but  it  was 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2O/ 

such  a  lasting  horror  to  me  that  I  had  vowed  to  never  at- 
tend one  again,  for  they  have  changed  the  program  to 
such  a  carnival  of  blood.  But,  for  your  sake,  I  shall  ac- 
cept this  one,  and  will  immediately  forward  a  runner  to 
Culhuacan  to  inform  King  Aztec  of  my  decision,  for  it 
were  better  for  our  purpose  that  we  accompany  him." 

"King  Icoatzin,  words  fail  me  in  which  to  express  my 
deep  gratitude  to  you,  but  I  cannot  wait ;  it  were,  perhaps, 
unwise  of  me  to  accept  their  hospitality,  although  they 
are  under  solemn  pledge  to  harm  not  friend  or  foe  during 
the  festival.  I  must  devise  some  quicker  method  of  as- 
suring the  princess  that  she  shall  be  rescued — Xolotli  and 
I  will  at  once  attempt  to  find  their  trail." 

44  King  Nouhyotl  sent  out  a  large  body  of  men  to  over- 
take the  murderous  and  thieving  band ;  I  fear  that  you 
are  unable  to  take  the  trail  as  yet  my  prince." 

"Oh  yes,  I  cannot  remain  here  idle;  we  will  start  at 
once;  we  may  perchance  overtake  our  men,  and  can  be 
of  inestimable  assistance,  knowing  the  route  far  better 
than  they." 

"Then,  if  you  really  insist  upon  so  doing,  I  shall  place  a 
detachment  of  selected  braves  at  your  command,  and  will 
go  at  once  to  give  them  final  orders,"  said  the  king. 

As  he  left  the  room  the  Son  of  Maguey  paced  the  floor 
with  rapid  strides,  regretting  that  a  single  moment's  delay 
was  necessary  which  seemed  unbearable  to  him  then, 
but  owing  to  the  excellent  management  of  the  king  they 
were  soon  upon  their  journey,  and  as  they  hurried  out  of 
the  city  the  prince  was  attracted  to  a  bevy  of  chirruping 
birds  which  alighted  upon  a  tree  ahead  of  them,  and  in 
clear  trilling  voices  they  screamed  in  unison,  "Tihui,  ti- 
hui."  He  motioned  his  men  to  halt,  and  all  eyes  were 
riveted  upon  the  imperative  little  messengers  who  repeat- 
ed the  magical  words,  "Tihui,  tihui !"  which  in  the  Toltec 


2O8  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

language  meant,  "Let  us  go,  let  us  go !"  and  they  impress- 
ed Meconetzin  in  such  a  manner  that  he  resolved  to  fol- 
low in  the  direction  of  their  flight. 

They  soon  met  a  runner  from  Culhuacan,  who  told 
them  that  he  had  evaded  meeting  a  hurrying  band  of 
Chichimecas,  who  had  several  Toltec  maidens  as  prison- 
ers, and  that  they  were  avoiding  the  public  highway  and 
were  carefully  covering  up  their  tracks,  and  were  hasten- 
ing in  the  direction  of  Tenochititlan. 

The  news  was  disheartening  to  Meconetzin,  who  had 
hoped  that  they  would  remain  in  the  vicinity  of  the  new 
Tollan  until  they  regained  possession  of  the  girl,  who  had 
volunteered  the  news  to  the  messengers 

For  three  successive  days  and  nights  tney  marched 
without  resting,  and  then  as  night  came  on  the  prince  saw 
that  it  would  be  an  act  of  extreme  cruelty  to  urge  them 
further  without  halting  for  a  spell  and  indulging  in  sleep. 
He  sank  upon  his  blanket  surrounded  by  his  sleeping" 
braves,  but  he  lingered  in  wakefulness  too  fatigued  and 
anxious  to  sleep.  He  feared  that  the  over-tired  fellows 
who  were  on  guard  would  not  be  able  to  resist  the  de- 
mands of  outraged  nature  before  their  relief  came  on; 
nor  was  he  mistaken.  Too  soon  he  became  aware  that 
stealthy  bodies  were  approaching  them  in  all  directions, 
and  he  carefully  reached  out  a  hand  and  awakened 
Xolotli  who  slumbered  nearest  to  him,  and  he  was  quick 
to  apprehend  the  danger,  and  at  once  conveyed  the  warn- 
ing in  a  like  manner  to  the  brave  nearest  him,  and  thus 
the  signal  was  given,  and  the  entire  band  seized  their 
weapons  and  breathlessly  awaited  the  advancing  enemy. 
A  deathly  stillness  reigned,  save  for  the  whispering 
zephyrs  which  toyed  with  scattered  leaves  and  gently 
swayed  some  creaking  branches.  The  very  stars  of  heav- 
en seemed  huddled  together  as  if  in  fear.  Every  brave 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2 09 

was  nerved  for  the  attack,  whether  from  man  or  beast. 
Slowly  those  gleaming  eyes  were  raised  aloft  higher,  and 
still  higher,  until  the  doubt  was  cleared,  and  they  knew 
that  they  were  human  foes.  They  had  not  reached  their 
full  height  until  the  disciplined  army  of  Tetlilicuan  arose 
simultaneously  and  defiantly  measured  the  distance  with 
keen  and  well  aimed  blows  that  broke  the  charmed  circle, 
and  they  fled  in  all  directions  from  the  wrath  of  the  valient 
defenders.  When  the  watch  of  night  was  over,  the  rising 
sun  shone  upon  the  dead  upturned  faces  of  several  fan- 
tastically painted  Xochimilca  warriors. 

Some  ugly  wounds  had  been  inflicted  upon  the  braves 
of  Tetlilicuan,  but  none  of  them  serious  enought  to  pre- 
vent them  from  continuing  their  rapid  march  onward  to- 
ward Tenochititlan. 


2IO  JTHE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

44  NOUHYOTL,  you  ask  of  my  child  and  I  that  which  our 
souls  revolt  against ;  you  know  that  the  time  has  expired 
to  which  you  limited  the  fulfillment  of  your  promise — a 
degrading  one,  it  was,  Nouhyotl,  which  had  I  been  con- 
sulted, should  never  have  been  made — and  now  you  are 
completely  absolved  from  it  by  the  interposition  and  wish 
of  the  Supreme  Deity,  and  how  can  you  find  it  in  your 
heart  to  entertain  the  thought  of  consenting  to  a  marriage 
of  our  only  child  to  one  whose  very  name  is  repugnant 
to  her?" 

"Xinhtlatzin,  I  fear  that  you  encourage  Centeotl  in  the 
vain-glorious  thought  that  she  is  far  above  him." 

"Do  you  then  forget  his  questionable  origin?" 

"Do  you  forget  the  fact  that  I  was  chosen  king  from 
among  the  common  people  on  account  of  my  military 
skill?  Topiltzin  exceeds  me  by  far  in  military  tactics 
now  and  has  learned  the  different  dialects  of  the  friendly 
nations  who  have  joined  ours;  and  you  know  that  the 
whole  army  aside  from  the  imperial  guards  are  at  his 
command,  and  the  majority  of  them  could  not  understand 
commands  given  by  any  other  general,  for  there  is  no 
other  Toltec  who  has  undertaken  such  an  enormous  task 
upon  himself  as  that  of  learning  the  different  tongues, 
and  he  deserves  great  credit  and  marked  consideration. 
That  he  sprang  into  existence  in  a  questionable  manner 
is  no  fault  of  his,  and  should  not  be  a  bar-sinister  to  this 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2  I  I 

union,  for  our  people  are  not  now  in  a  position  to  draw 
the  fine  lines  of  propriety  which  marked  us  preeminent  in 
the  days  gone  by.  Had  the  unfortunate  young  prince  been 
less  head-strong  and  listened  to  the  successful  plan  which 
Topiltzin  laid  before  him,  he  would  undoubtedly  have  re- 
turned with  his  braves  unharmed,  even  if  he  did  fail  to 
get  possession  of  the  key.  But  imagine  his  audacity!  I 
cannot  call  it  bravery,  which  tempted  him  to  enter  the 
domain  of  King  Tenochititlan  and  surround  himself  with 
a  few  brotherhood  slaves  and  pour  forth  a  loud  and  flam- 
ing speech  denouncing  their  faith  and  religion  and  forms 
of  government!  Why  the  boy  must  surely  have  taken 
leave  of  his  senses  when  he  beheld  the  beautiful  vale  of 
Tollantzingo  which,  with  all  of  Tollan,  should  have  been 
his  by  right  of  inheritance  but  for  the  success  of  that 
victorious  alliance." 

"  Nouhyotl,  you  seem  to  forget  entirely  that  you  have 
heard  but  one  side  of  the  story." 

"I  forget  nothing;  his  statements  have  all  been  veri- 
fied by  his  men.  I  have  reference  to  the  men  who  accom- 
panied Meconetzin.  They  say  that  he  and  Xolotli  started 
out  to  visit  some  Toltec  family  on  the  very  eve  of  their 
arrival  at  a  safe  rendezvous,  and  that  they  were  captured 
on  the  way  and  taken  before  the  king,  and  those  who 
captured  him  declared  that  they  overheard  him  promis- 
ing to  liberate  the  slaves  if  they  would  all  join  him 
in  an  uprising.  I  really  gave  him  credit  for  more  tact 
and  diplomacy!  I  must  admit  that  I  am  not  surprised 
that  he  met  such  a  fearful  death !  It  is  a  deplorable  fate 
for  one  so  young,  and  as  I  had  thought,  until  his  rash  act, 
so  full  of  promise;  but  now  you  must  prevail  upon  Cen- 
teotl  to  accept  the  inevitable  in  a  becoming  spirit,  for  it  is 
really  the  best  course  to  pursue." 


212  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

"What  great  diplomatic  feat  did  Topiltzin  accomplish 
besides  getting  the  key  ?" 

"He  has  brought  us  the  assurance  that  the  Culhuacas 
are  daily  becoming  more  dissatisfied  with  the  conduct  of 
the  Chichimecas  regarding  the  enormous  demands  for 
tribute  which  they  increase  every  year,  and  still  they  to- 
tally disregard  the  promises  made  to  them  previous  to  the 
conquest.  The  Culhuacas  are  a  very  intelligent,  progres- 
sive and  superior  people,  and  will  not  tamely  submit  to 
many  more  such  demands.  They  have  declared  to  Topilt- 
zin that  they  are  anxious  to  form  an  alliance  with  other 
powerful  nations  with  the  object  of  defying  the  oppres- 
sors ;  and  he  actually  had  the  temerity  to  venture  into  the 
domain  of  the  warring  Xochimilcas  with  but  three  men 
in  order  to  make  a  treaty  with  their  king;  why  the  man 
is  a  born  diplomat !" 

"Ah,  I  see  that  you  are  not  disposed  to  censure  him  for 
inciting  a  rebellion  upon  a  grand  scale,  while  dear  Me- 
conetzin's  Toltec  blood  was  fired  with  indignation 
when  he  beheld  his  people  slaves  in  their  once  proud  land 
and  toiling  for  such  ignorant  and  barbarous  masters.  My 
heart  swells  with  pride  at  the  thought  that  he  dared  brave 
their  anger  and  fling  his  scorn  and  defiance  into  their 
very  teeth." 

"You  are  inclined  to  be  sarcastic  toward  Topiltzin  be- 
cause you  have  always  disliked  him,  while  Meconetzin 
was  always  your  hero.  I,  too,  loved  the  boy  as  if  he  were 
my  own  son,  and  I  have  been  aware  that  they  both  loved 
our  child.  This  affection  seems  to  have  dated  from  in- 
fancy, and  in  order  to  fathom  the  depth  of  their  affection 
I  sent  them  upon  that  mission  in  order  to  prove  their  dip- 
lomatic abilities,  and  also  prevent  any  rash  act  of  jealousy 
here ;  then,  too,  I  was  very  anxious  to  secure  the  key  for 
a  reason  which  I  have  never  before  disclosed,  which  is  this 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2  1 3 

— at  the  battle  of  Tollantzingo  I  fought  side  by  side  with 
our  beloved  leader,  General  Topiltzin,  and  I  aided  in  cov- 
ering him  when  he  seized  the  queen  and  her  child,  and 
fought  inch  by  inch  to  aid  them  in  escaping  to  a  canoe 
to  cross  the  moat,  and  when  I  drew  the  cruel  arrows  from 
his  mortal  wounds  he  missed  the  key,  which  he  confided 
to  me  was  only  a  misleading  device,  which  contained  a 
secret  spring  at  its  base  concealing  full  instructions  to  the 
Toltec  treasures,  and  if  found  should  be  held  for  Me- 
conetzin,  who  would  be  informed  what  to  do  with  it.  I 
refrained  from  explaining  these  things,  as  the  facts  were 
told  me  as  the  dying  confidence  of  my  general,  and  I 
promised  him  to  use  every  means  in  my  power  to  find  the 
key  and  restore  it  to  the  prince.  The  key  which  Topiltzin 
has  brought  is  not  the  true  one,  for  there  is  no  secret 
spring  about  it,  and  the  other  one  cannot  have  been  found, 
and  if  I  can  form  an  alliance  with  other  powerful  nations 
and  conquer  the  present  rulers  of  Tollan,  I  will  carefully 
search  every  foot  of  ground  which  our  army  covered,  and 
hope  to  yet  find  the  true  one  that  will  unlock  the  greatest 
treasures  the  world  ever  knew.  Now  you  can  under- 
stand my  eagerness  in  wishing  to  become  possessed  of 
that  trophy,  and  why  I  could  not  make  all  of  the  explana- 
tions referring  to  the  same." 

"Then  your  champion  did  not  really  accomplish  any 
great  thing,  after  all,  did  he?  Unless  in  the  Xochimilca 
kingdom,  and  what  great  diplomatic  feat  did  he " 

"Here  he  comes,  and  he  shall  speak  for  himself.  Top- 
iltzin, your  arrival  is  indeed  opportune,  your  queen  de- 
sires to  know  what  you  have  accomplished  in  the  treaty 
which  you  made  with  the  king  of  the  mighty  Xochimil- 
cas?" 

"Indeed,  I  am  greatly  honored,  and  I  will  simply  relate 
all  of  the  facts  leading  up  to  it  just  as  they  occurred,  for  I 


214  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

have  no  prevaricating  or  illustrating  eloquence,  and  I  fear 
that  you  will  be  shocked  and  horrified  at  some  of  the  dis- 
closures which  I  shall  be  obliged  to  make  in  order  to  ex- 
plain fully  the  exact  motive,  and  the  manner  in  which  he 
listened  to  my  plans,  and  why  he  signified  such  prompt 
willingness  to  join  us  or  any  such  nation  to  overpower  the 
cruel  conquerors,  which  really  does  not  reflect  very  much 
credit  or  courage  on  my  part  as  you  will  observe." 

"Proceed,  Topiltzin,  without  delay;  after  your  very 
vivid  description  of  the  horrible  death  of  dear  Meconet- 
zin,  I  can  surely  bear  any  other  recital  concerning  those 
whom  I  do  not  know  or  care  for,  it  cannot  possibly  be 
worse." 

"Queen  Xinhtlatzin,  I  am  deeply  grieved  that  I  was 
obliged  to  corroborate  those  facts  as  related  by  my  run- 
ner, whom  I  assure  you  I  cautioned  to  make  the  disclo- 
sures in  as  mild  a  form  as  the  facts  would  admit  of,  know- 
ing so  well  what  a  favorite  he  always  was  here  at  the 
palace;  but  I  have  since  learned  that  he  insisted  upon 
explaining  the  horrible  event  in  all  of  its  gruesome  de- 
tails ;  that  the  prince  had  fallen  a  victim  to  his  own  folly 
had  been  quite  sufficient,  and  would  have  carried  out  my 
expressed  wishes  in  regard  to  his  relation  of  the  affair. 

"My  trip  to  the  Xochimilca  kingdom  was  due  indirect- 
ly to  that  impassioned  speech  made  by  Meconetzin.  Since 
the  conquest,  each  allied  nation  has  sent  a  priest  as  a 
representative  of  their  affairs  at  Tenochititlan,  where 
they  are  supported  in  regal  style.  The  priest  or  consul  of 
the  Xochimilcas  was  also  a  witness  to  the  flaming  speech 
made  by  Meconetzin,  and  shortly  afterward  he  electrified 
the  king  and  the  assembled  multitude  by  declaring  that 
he  approved  of  the  ideas  advanced  by  the  prince.  This 
was  considered  a  grave  menace  to  the  welfare  of  the  con- 
querors— that  he  who  represented  the  least  civilized  of  the 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2 1  $ 

four  allied  nations  should  coincide  with  the  views  of  a 
mutinous,  envious  Toltec,  and  brazenly  flaunt  the  fact  in 
the  senate  chamber,  and  before  the  king.  The  result  was 
tremendous.  He  was  ordered  out  of  the  council,  and  the 
moment  he  reached  the  street  a  rabble  formed  about  him 
who  showered  savage  blows  upon  him  until  life  was  ex- 
tinct, and  then  they  burned  his  body  and  threw  the  ashes 
to  the  four  winds  of  heaven  to  forever  preclude  the  possi- 
bility of  his  resurrection  or  after-life.  Thus  the  warring- 
nation  which  he  represented  was  enraged  to  such  a  de- 
gree of  fury  that  they  threatened  to  make  war  upon  the 
conquerors  without  delay,  but  were  pacified  somewhat  by- 
promises  of  less  tribute,  more  privileges  and  offices  of 
rank  for  their  favorite  leaders,  and  a  solemn  pledge  that 
their  representatives  should  in  future  be  well  and  securely 
protected,  and  in  this  manner  they  patched  up  a  truce  with 
them  at  the  conclusion  of  which  they  warned  them  that  if 
they  attempted  to  break  the  treaty  they  would  call  upon 
the  aid  of  the  other  two  allies  and  annihilate  them  com- 
pletely. 

"The  latter  threat  seemed  to  have  the  desired  effect,  and 
they  sullenly  agreed  to  the  stipulation;  then  King  Teno- 
chititlan  commanded  the  envoy  to  say  to  his  king  that  he 
should  send  one  of  his  daughters  to  the  city  to  attend  the 
festivities  then  in  progress,  and  that  he  himself  should 
come  to  escort  her  home  upon  the  following  day  as  he 
desired  a  personal  interview  with  him. 

"She  came,  accompanied  by  several  maids  and  a  retinue 
of  guards,  and  was  royally  received  and  escorted  to  the 
temple  in  great  state  where  a  sacrifice  was  in  progress, 
preceding  the  ball.  The  moment  that  the  music  pealed 
forth  the  young  Xochimilca  princess  was  escorted  by  sev- 
eral priests  to  the  altar,  whereon  was  placed  the  goddess 
of  love — Xochiquetzalli — and  without  word  or  warning 


2l6  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

they  hurled  her  upon  the  great  sacrificial  stone  and  tore 
her  heart  from  her  bosom,  and  thrust  it  into  the  mouth 
of  the  grinning  goddess  while  it  was  still  beating.  This 
was  the  first  time  they  had  ever  been  guilty  of  executing 
a  woman;  but  they  determined  to  make  a  horrible  ex- 
ample of  her  as  a  menace  to  those  who  dared  transgress 
their  laws  in  any  manner,  nor  was  the  tragedy  sufficiently 
impressive  until  slaves  were  ordered  to  skin  the  body  after 
which  they  arrayed  the  goddess  in  the  uncanny  habili- 
ment, and  the  dance  went  on. 

"Upon  the  following  day  when  the  king  arrived  he  was 
escorted  to  the  tempte,  having  been  informed  that  his 
daughter  was  consecrated  therein  temporarily.  He  needed 
"but  one  horrified  glance  to  tell  him  all,  and  the  savage 
shriek  of  agony  that  rung  from  his  lips  was  maddening! 
He  was  cooly  informed  that  he  should  be  served  in  a  like 
manner  if  there  were  any  more  dissensions  among  his 
people  who  must,  one  and  all,  obey  Chichimeca  laws  or 
be  exterminated. 

"When  he  left  the  city  I  was  informed  of  the  direction 
which  he  took,  and  I  followed  him,  accompanied  by  two 
of  my  men  and  a  slave  who  could  speak  their  language, 
and  in  this  manner  I  learned  that  they  would  gladly  join 
with  ours  or  any  other  nation  to  overpower  the  fiendish 
Chichimecas." 

"What  a  powerful  speech  brave  Meconetzin  must  have 
made  to  arouse  such  serious  results.  He  has,  with  his  un- 
daunted courage,  eloquence  and  defiance  made  it  possible 
for  us  to  form  an  alliance  with  that  mighty  nation,  and 
he  relinquished  his  noble  life  in  so  doing." 

"My  dear  queen,  I  fail  to  appreciate  the  act  of  that  rash 
youth  in  the  same  spirit  which  you  persist  in  viewing  it. 
The  Xochimilcas  have  always  been  dissatisfied  the  same  as 
the  other  nations  who  joined  in  the  conquest,  and  if  the 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2  I/ 

terrible  episode  just  related  had  not  occurred  to  give  them 
ample  pretext  for  revolt,  they  certainly  would  have  in- 
vented one  or  refused  to  pay  tribute  which  would  incite 
a  conflict  quicker  than  any  other  act.  I  think  that  it  is 
Topiltzin  here  who  deserves  the  greatest  credit,  for  he  has 
certainly  shown  the  true  spirit  of  diplomacy  by  broach- 
ing the  all  important  subject  to  the  king  at  the  precise  mo- 
ment when  there  was  no  chance  of  it  being  rejected,  and 
certainly  the  suggestion  will  never  be  lost  upon  that  vin- 
dictive nation." 

During  the  foregoing  conversation  Centeotl  was  sitting 
in  an  adjoining  room  which  had  no  outlet  save  through 
the  one  where  the  gruesome  discussion  was  taking  place, 
and  being  desirous  of  avoiding  Topiltzin  she  became  an 
unwilling  listener  to  the  shocking  details  set  forth  by  her 
enamored  suitor,  and  the  moment  that  he  left  the  palace, 
she  set  out  upon  one  of  her  long  rambles  and  in  a  des- 
perate frame  of  mind,  utterly  regardless  of  the  efforts  of 
her  maids,  who  sought  to  cheer  her,  as  in  the  happy  days 
gone  by.  They  gathered  choice  wild  flowers  which  they 
garlanded  into  wreaths  and  bouquets  with  which  they 
were  wont  to  array  her,  but  she  shook  her  head  sadly  and 
seemed  to  have  lost  all  appreciation  or  delight  in  the 
beauties  of  nature  which  gave  no  comfort  to  her  aching 
heart. 

She  hurried  on  as  if  anxious  to  out-run  her  thoughts, 
when  a  fresh  stab  entered  her  quivering  soul  as  she  heard 
her  lover's  name  mentioned  by  one  of  the  guards  who  had 
accompanied  Meconetzin  upon  that  memorable  trip. 
They  were  marveling  at  his  wonderful  escape. 

Then  a  wave  of  ecstacy  surged  her  entire  being,  and 
she  turned  abruptly  and  confronted  them  in  a  command- 
ing tone,  saying — "Do  you  know  it  to  be  a  fact  that  Prince 
Meconetzin  was  not  sacrificed !  Did  he  escape?" 


2  1 8  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

Frightened  at  having  divulged  the  secret  revealed  by 
the  jeweler  to  Topiltzin  at  the  moment  when  he  had  de- 
livered up  the  key,  which  facts  he  had  commanded  them 
to  reveal  at  the  cost  of  their  lives,  they  sought  to  evade  an 
answer,  but  her  pleading  eyes  and  tones  wrung  the  truth 
from  their  shrinking  lips. 

"Did  he  escape  from  Tenochititlan  ?"  she  enquired 
eagerly. 

"He  took  refuge  in  the  haunted  cavern,  and  no  Chi- 
chimeca  in  the  whole  kingdom  has  the  courage  to  follow 
him  there,  although  the  king  himself  were  to  command 
them  to  do  so.  It  is  said  that  he  cannot  possibly  escape 
from  there  as  there  are  three  black,  shaggy  animals  that 
guard  the  place,  and  he  may  have  been  devoured  by  them 
e'er  this." 

She  asked  them  no  more  questions,  and  the  sudden  re- 
action of  her  intense  nature  yielded  to  a  flood  of  tears. 
This  excited  the  sympathy  and  indignation  of  the  guards 
to  that  extent  that  they  voluntarily  revealed  the  whole 
shameful  facts  of  the  duplicity  of  Topiltzin,  and  when 
they  had  concluded,  she  hurried  on  under  the  powerful 
exhilaration  of  the  welcome  thought  that  as  he  had  es- 
caped the  horrible  doom  so  barbarously  planned,  that  the 
Supreme  Deity  would  not  forsake  him. 

They  were  near  ing  an  abrupt  jutting  mass  of  rocks 
when  a  band  of  resolute  warriors  made  their  grim  ap- 
pearance which  caused  the  hearts  of  the  guards  to  falter. 
They  recognized  them  to  be  a  detachment  of  Chichimeca 
braves. 

The  desperate  little  band  of  Toltecs  surrounded  their 
princess  and  her  maids,  and  offered  a  heroic  resistance 
until  the  last  one  sank  dead  at  the  feet  of  the  maidens, 
who  were  then  ordered  to  march  in  the  direction  indi- 
cated by  their  captors. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  219 

The  terrible  fate  of  the  Xochimilca  princess  flashed 
across  the  mind  of  Centeotl,  causing  her  to  writhe  in  fear, 
but  she  bravely  determined  to  show  no  outward  sign  of 
the  conflict  in  her  soul  if  she  could  manage  to  control 
the  tumultuous  beating  of  her  fluttering  heart.  Her 
maids  were  utterly  convulsed  with  fear  and  they  prayed 
and  wept  alternately. 

They  were  marched  on  through  a  trackless  wilderness 
in  order  to  avoid  stray  bands  and  active  pursuit,  and  they 
detailed  guards  to  cover  up  their  footprints.  Day  after 
day  she  looked  and  longed  for  relief  in  vain;  but  the 
comforting  thought  that  the  prince  still  lived,  made  her 
hardship  more  endurable,  until  the  forbidding  walls  of 
Tenochititlan  loomed  up  before  her,  then  she  lost  all  hope 
of  escape ;  dark  cumulus  clouds  veiled  the  orb  of  day  as 
if  in  pity  when  the  heart-breaking  captives  were  hurried 
through  those  fatal  gates. 

A  dazed  and  numb  sensation  enveloped  Centeotl  and 
she  wandered  on  like  one  in  a  horrible  nightmare,  through 
a  succession  of  streets  filled  with  curious  staring  crowds. 
They  were  led  on  until  they  reached  a  particular  street 
near  a  large  elegant  temple  in  the  very  center  of  the  city  ; 
they  were  ushered  into  a  spacious  well-guarded  room, 
where  they  sank  down  mute  and  helpless,  realizing  that 
they  were  in  the  stronghold  of  the  most  demoniac  beings 
who  ever  raised  a  bow  or  poised  an  arrow. 

Several  hours  elapsed  when  a  guard  informed  the 
princess  that  he  was  commanded  to  take  her  before  the 
king,  and  she  tremblingly  obeyed  the  dreaded  summons, 
and  the  moment  that  she  appeared  before  him  the  king" 
exclaimed,  "You  are  a  Toltec  maiden  ?" 

She  raised  her  soulful  eyes  to  his  basilisk  gaze  for  a 
moment,  and  shrank  from  the  admiration  which  belied  the 
cruelty  of  his  thin  compressed  lips,  and  he  keenly  and  de- 


220  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

liberately  studied  every  wave  of  emotion  which  swept 
across  her  truthful  and  refined  features. 

For  several  torturing  moments  the  piercing  scrutiny 
continued  which  seemed  to  scorch  and  shrivel  her  very 
soul,  then  to  her  intense  relief  he  bade  the  guards  escort 
her  back  to  prison,  without  his  having  addressed  her 
another  word. 

When  she  returned  she  sank  down  beside  her  maids 
apathetically,  until  attracted  by  the  crude  outlines  of  a 
drawing  which  was  traced  with  charcoal  upon  the  oppo- 
site wall,  and  something  in  the  bold  strokes  appeared 
familiar  to  her;  with  conflicting  emotions  she  crossed 
the  wide  room  and  quickly  recognized  the  handsome  feat- 
ures of  Meconetzin,  and  close  beside  his  were  portrayed 
her  own!  A  little  faint  tremor  of  joy  wavered  in  her 
bosom  for  a  moment  as  she  realized  that  the  very  room 
which  was  her  prison  had  been  his  also,  and  through  all 
of  his  hopes  and  fears  he  had  dreamed  and  thought  of 
her,  and  a  little  wave  of  comfort  was  afforded  her  by  the 
thought  that  he  had  gone  from  there  to  liberty,  instead 
of  the  sacrifice ! 

Fearful  that  the  truthful  likeness  of  herself  would  be 
observed  and  bear  significance,  she  carefully  obliterated 
it,  leaving  only  the  handsome  features  of  the  Son  of 
Maguey  upon  the  whitened  wall. 

Each  day  the  king  commanded  her  to  appear  before 
him,  when  he  addressed  a  few  words  to  her,  and  then  dis- 
missed her.  The  daily  occurrence  caused  a  terrible  ap- 
prehension to  assail  her,  and  she  feared  that  he  was  de- 
liberating upon  which  particular  god  or  goddess  she 
should  be  sacrificed  to,  and  that  he  evidently  took  savage 
delight  in  thus  torturing  her  with  suspense ;  but  her  fears 
were  soon  awakened  in  an  entirely  new  channel,  when 
he  told  her  that  she  had  taught  him  his  first  lesson  of 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  22  I 

love!  Her  ill-concealed  loathing  made  him  keenly  feel 
his  utter  insignificance,  and  taught  him  sensations  which 
had  hitherto  been  a  stranger  to  his  savage  bosom,  and 
he  knew  that  in  gratifying  his  heart's  wishes  he  would 
tear  a  glowing  star  from  the  firmament  of  beauty  and 
trail  its  purity  into  the  very  dust  of  earth.  Each  day  he 
became  more  painfully  aware  of  his  dreadful  shortcom- 
ings, and  a  wish  formed  itself  in  his  desires  that  he  might 
become  more  worthy  of  her. 

Each  day  the  priests  became  more  clamerous  for  a  de- 
cision regarding  her  fate,  and  each  day  he  silenced  them 
with  renewed  promises  of  a  speedy  answer.  She  was 
greatly  disturbed  when  he  said : 

"Fair  one,  what  name  have  you?"  The  unmistakable 
tenderness  in  his  tones  frightened  her  far  more  than  im- 
perative ones  could  have  done,  and  she  answered  frig- 
idly, 

"Centeotl!"  He  repeated  the  name  several  times  in  a 
musing  tone,  then  said,  "What  a  pretty  name,  and  in  your 
language  it  means  the  earth.  Centeotl,  you  are  both 
heaven  and  earth  to  me !" 

The  declaration  seemed  to  have  rushed  to  his  lips  un- 
bidden, and  revealed  the  painstaking  effort  which  he  had 
recently  made  to  converse  with  her  in  her  own  language. 

She  shrank  from  the  ardent  gaze,  pale  and  trembling, 
while  the  thought  lingered  in  her  heart — almost  a  wish — 
that  her  path  should  lead  her  to  the  sacrifice,  rather  than 
to  the  throne  of  Tenochititlan.  Emboldened  by  her 
silence,  he  commanded  her  in  all  of  the  gentleness  of 
which  he  was  capable,  to  make  immediate  preparations  to 
become  his  queen.  In  dismay  and  horror  she  besought 
him  to  spare  her  the  honor,  reminding  him  that  she  was 
the  daughter  of  his  bitterest  enemy,  but  he  exclaimed : 

"Beautiful  Centeotl,  it  is  to  save  you  from  the  clutches 


222  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

of  the  high  priest,  and  the  horror  of  the  sacrifice  that  I 
would  wed  you." 

Raising  her  dark,  expressive  eyes  unflinchingly  to  his 
she  said:  "King  Tenochititlan,  rather  than  become  your 
queen,  /  shall  choose  the  sacrifice!" 

"That  shall  never  be;  the  choice  of  your  destiny  is  not 
in  your  own  hands,  but  in  mine!  Now  I  command  you 
to  become  my  queen." 

A  groan  of  anguish  fell  from  her  quivering  lips  as  she 
shrank  from  his  evil  gaze,  and  he  motioned  the  guards  to 
bear  her  away  while  he  summoned  the  priests  in  order  to 
inform  them  of  his  decision.  Never  before  had  any  an- 
nouncement of  a  king's  wishes  created  such  consternation 
as  his  declaration,  and  his  counselors  shook  their  heads 
ominously  as  if  they  meditated  severe  measures  in  order 
to  prevent  such  a  dire  catastrophe ! 

With  difficulty  the  princess  reached  her  prison  room, 
where  she  sank  down  hopeless  and  helpless;  her  terri- 
fied maids  hovered  about  her,  beseeching  her  to  speak  to 
them,  but  she  gazed  upon  them  with  blank  staring  eyes 
that  seemed  to  penetrate  beyond  the  veil  of  tears  into  the 
mysteries  of  eternity.  Suddenly  she  arose,  as  if  by  one 
last  and  superhuman  effort,  and  uttered  one  blood-curd- 
ling shriek  after  another  until  she  sank  fainting  into  the 
arms  of  her  maids;  the  very  light  of  reason  tottered  in 
the  balance,  and  a  raging  fever  followed  the  prostration 
of  her  overwrought  nerves,  and  her  recovery  was  slow 
and  uncertain. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  223 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

WHILE  journeying  to  mount  Tlaloc  to  inspect  the  pro- 
gress of  the  arrangements  for  the  coming  festivities,  King 
Tenochititlan  was  stung  by  a  hooded  viper,  and  despite 
every  effort  to  alleviate  his  suffering  and  destroy  the 
poison,  it  was  soon  noised  about  that  his  life  was  despair- 
ed of,  and  hardly  had  the  news  been  circulated  about  the 
city  than  great  ululations  broke  forth  which  announced 
the  startling  fact  that  the  king  was  dead!  Many  were 
the  preparations  necessary  to  the  proper  disposal  of  the 
body  of  a  king,  and  they  were  commenced  by  forming  a 
huge  pile  of  pine  logs  in  the  court-yard  of  the  palace, 
which  were  arranged  in  a  tessalated  form  for  a  founda- 
tion, from  which  was  built  a  pyramid  in  the  same  manner 
which  constituted  the  funeral  pyre  of  the  lamented  Caz- 
onci.  His  body  was  placed  upon  a  litter  covered  with  a  gay 
quilt  over  which  was  draped  a  white  spread;  a  necklace 
of  fish  bones  was  secured  about  his  throat,  which  they 
believed  possessed  a  great  charm,  and  which  they  believed 
would  make  a  very  favorable  impression  in  the  land  of 
the  sun.  Golden  bells  were  fastened  about  his  ankles,  and 
his  wrists  were  adorned  with  jeweled  bracelets  and  bright 
plaited  feathers.  Then  a  second  necklace  was  placed  about 
his  throat  consisting  of  beautiful  turquoises.  Heavy  gold 
bands  were  sprung-  about  his  arms,  and  large  hoops  of 
gold  were  placed  in  each  ear,  and  a  ring  of  turquoise  was 
secured  in  his  lower  lip.  A  cuirass  of  tiger  skins  was 


224  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

placed  upon  his  body,  and  it  was  then  announced  ready 
for  its  journey  to  the  sun. 

Seven  maids  of  honor  were  elected  to  accompany  him, 
one  to  guard  the  necklace,  one  to  guard  the  lip-ring,  a 
cook,  a  wine  server,  a  water  bearer  and  a  general  serving 
maid. 

Thirty-three  serving  men  were  obliged  to  accompany 
him ;  two  who  should  carry  his  clothing  necessary  on  the 
trip,  one  to  make  garlands  of  clover,  one  to  carry  his 
chair,  one  to  carry  a  hatchet  to  cut  wood,  one  to  carry  a 
fan,  one  to  carry  his  sandals,  one  to  carry  his  perfume, 
one  as  oarsman  who  carried  an  oar,  one  to  make  coronets 
of  feathers,  one  to  make  arrows,  one  to  make  bows,  also 
the  physician  who  failed  to  save  his  life,  some  dancers  to 
amuse  him,  and  also  some  musicians.  They  were  all  dress- 
ed in  white,  and  were  obliged  to  wear  the  insignia  of  the 
office  in  which  they  had  served  in  the  royal  household. 

They  were  all  garlanded  with  clover,  and  had  their 
faces  painted  a  bright  yellow  color,  and  when  the  moment 
came  for  the  procession  to  move  they  all  formed  into  line 
and  followed  the  lords  and  their  sons  who  carried  the 
body  of  the  king  upon  their  shoulders,  and  each  member 
of  the  procession  elected  to  follow  on  the  death- journey 
played  briskly  upon  bones  of  alligator  and  tortoise.  The 
body  was  carried  around  the  huge  funeral  pyre  four  times 
upon  the  bier  while  the  musicians  blew  their  trumpets 
with  shrieking  blasts. 

At  intervals  during  this  period  the  forty  selected  fol- 
lowers were  urged  to  drink  octli  until  they  were  inebri- 
ated, and  then  the  body  was  placed  upon  the  sum- 
mit of  the  funeral  pyre,  and  all  of  the  rela- 
tives of  the  dead  king  turned  away  and  com- 
menced chanting  the  death  song  while  the  flaming 
torch  was  applied  on  all  sides,  and  when  the  blazing  tim- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  22$ 

bers  were  all  under  way  the  doomed  followers  were  forced 
into  the  flames  and  kept  there  by  a  body  of  guards  de- 
tailed for  the  purpose,  until  they  all  perished,  and  the 
vivid  carnival  of  death  lighted  up  the  whole  city. 

One  of  the  guards  informed  Centeotl  of  the  tragic  fate 
of  the  king  when  she  enquired  in  one  of  her  lucid  mo- 
ments as  to  the  cause  of  the  strange  commotion,  and  he 
took  special  care  to  rehearse  all  of  the  gruesome  details 
at  great  length,  and  he  declared  that  each  servant  of  the 
king's  household,  who  had  not  elected  to  follow  him, 
showed  great  disappointment,  as  it  was  considered  a  priv- 
ilege of  rare  distinction,  and  would  insure  them  a  place 
of  rank  and  prominence  in  the  land  of  the  sun. 

She  listened  in  a  dazed  manner,  trying  to  realize  that 
she  had  really  escaped  from  the  obnoxious  cause  of  her 
extreme  misery  and  her  tensioned  nerves  relaxed  their 
fearful  strain,  and  she  sank  into  a  peaceful  slumber  despite 
the  hoarse  screams  borne  upon  the  breeze  from  the  palace 
which  sounded  more  like  savage  growls  and  snarls  of 
beasts  than  men. 

The  flickering  shafts  of  flame  gradually  died  out  while 
dense  rifts  of  smoke  swerved  in  dark  clouds  rank  with 
the  fetid  fumes  which  arose  from  the  ghastly  furnace, 
befouling  the  waves  of  air  that  shrank  from  the  grim 
burden  and  refused  to  ascend  toward  heaven. 

Octli  was  served  as  free  as  water,  and  all  of  the  par- 
ticipants of  the  ceremonies  staggered  about  the  mourn- 
ing city  bewailing  the  untimely  fate  of  the  king. 

The  final  obsequies  having  been  accorded  the  deceased 
king,  the  next  important  step  necessary  was  to  establish 
a  new  king  as  the  late  Tenochititlan  left  no  progeny. 

They,  like  the  Toltecs  in  a  similar  case,  chose  four 
electors  from  the  highest  nobility  to  represent  the  nation 
pro  tern,  and  they  had  the  privilege  of  choosing  a  king, 


226  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

and  if  the  electors  and  their  chosen  king  were  approved  of 
by  the  masses  they  were  then  privileged  to  remain  in  of- 
fice, but  if  objections  were  made  four  other  electors  were 
appointed,  and  they  chose  another  king,  and  after  the 
choice  was  made  known  to  the  people  a  law  was  passed 
that  the  crown  of  the  dead  king  should  remain  in  the 
family  of  his  nearest  kin. 

The  most  noble  appearing  and  inspiring  of  the  four 
electors  led  the  newly  appointed  king  to  the  temple,  and 
a  grand  procession  was  then  formed.  First  came  the 
greatest  lord  of  state  adorned  with  the  insignia  of  his 
rank,  followed  by  all  of  the  court  in  their  gala  dress,  and 
an  abundance  of  feathers;  then  came  the  lords  of  court 
bearing  the  insignia  of  their  office,  and  followed  by  two 
friendly  kings;  behind  them  came  the  newly  appointed 
king,  nude  with  the  exception  of  a  loin  sash  or  maxtli; 
he  mounted  the  temple  stairs  leaning  upon  the  shoulders 
of  two  prominent  lords  of  court,  and  they  were  received 
in  an  impressive  manner  by  the  austere  high  priest,  and 
were  immediately  surrounded  by  those  holding  the  high- 
est offices  in  the  temple ;  he  then  advanced  to  the  war-god, 
Huitzilopochtli,  to  do  him  honor,  touching  the  floor  with 
liis  hand  and  then  raising  it  solemnly  to  his  mouth. 

The  high  priest  then  painted  his  body  black,  and 
sprinkled  him  with  water  which  had  been  blest  with  due 
ceremony  at  the  last  festival  to  the  war-god,  and  he  used 
a  whisk  for  the  purpose  made  of  cedar  twigs,  willow  and 
corn  blades;  then  a  long  cloak  was  draped  about  him 
which  was  covered  with  paintings  of  skulls  and  bones; 
then  they  covered  his  head  and  face  with  two  veils.  The 
first  one  was  blue  and  the  second  one  was  black,  painted 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  cloak. 

A  gourd  filled  with  titsli,  a  kind  of  sacred  black  bean, 
was  hung  about  his  neck.  These  beans  were  believed  to 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  22/ 

possess  the  wonderful  charm  of  subduing  witchcraft, 
overcoming  disappointment  and  preventing  anyone  from 
cheating  him,  and  also  possessed  the  rare  charm  of  mak- 
ing him  happy. 

He  then  knelt  down  to  receive  the  censer,  and  a  bag  of 
copalli  with  which  to  incense  the  idols,  and  then  the  high 
priest  seated  himself  and  delivered  the  following  con- 
gratulatory speech: 

.  "Revered,  elected  and  annointed  king,  before  you  stand 
your  worthy  subjects,  who  have  this  day  elevated  you  to 
the  enviable  rank  of  monarch  of  Tenochititlan,  in  the  di- 
vine presence  of  our  attentive  gods  and  admiring  people. 

"I  command  you  to  have  zeal  in  every  religious  cause, 
to  mete  out  justice  whenever  and  wherever  needed,  to 
protect  the  poor  within  your  realm  and  provide  for  them, 
to  defend  your  fatherland  and  kingdom  from  all  enemies, 
and  to  keep  these  instructions  fresh  and  true  in  your 
memory  and  receive  my  congratulations  to  you,  our  king." 

When  the  stern  impressive  voice  of  the  priest  died 
away,  one  of  the  friendly  kings  made  a  brief  speech,  fol- 
lowed by  the  other,  then  one  of  the  nobles  also  made  a 
speech,  and  to  each  and  all  of  them  the  newly  appointed 
king  manifested  deep  gratitude,  and  promised  to  do  all  in 
his  power  to  benefit  his  people  and  kingdom. 

The  great  high  priest  then  advanced,  and  in  an  im- 
pressive manner  commanded  him  to  take  the  following 
oaths  and  to  keep  them  faithfully : 

"To  observe  and  adhere  to  the  old  religion. 

"To  promote  the  laws  of  his  forefathers. 

"To  make  the  sun  move ! 

"To  brinc^  rain  from  the  heavens  when  needed. 

"Never  to  allow  the  waters  of  the  earth  to  decrease. 

"Never  to  allow  the  fruits  of  the  earth  to  fail. 

"Never  to  allow  any  alien  to  usurp  him  as  king*"        .  J 


228  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

All  of  these  vows  depended  solely  upon  his  conduct  as 
king,  and  if  he  were  well  appointed,  himself  nor  his  sub- 
jects would  ever  lose  the  protection  of  heaven. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  ceremony  they  all  adjourned 
to  the  lower  hall  where  the  tributes  of  the  nobles  to  the 
new  king  awaited  him,  and  they  consisted  of  handsome 
and  elaborate  garments  especially  woven  for  a  king,  and 
also  costly  jewels  and  elegant  feathers.  After  receiving 
these  offerings,  and  bestowing  gracious  thanks  upon  the 
donors,  he  was  led  into  an  inner  sanctuary  called  the 
Tlacateco,  or  hall  of  double  truth,  where  they  left  him  for 
four  days  in  solitude,  and  during  that  period  he  was  allow- 
ed to  partake  of  food  but  once  a  day,  and  was  compelled 
to  bathe  twice  each  day,  and  after  each  bath  he  was  oblig- 
ed to  pierce  his  ears  until  they  bled  upon  the  copalli  in  the 
censer  which  served  as  a  burned  offering  while  he  prayed 
to  the  got5s  to  send  him  knowledge  to  reign  wisely. 

Upon  the  fifth  day  the  nobility  returned  and  conducted 
him  to  the  palace,  where  his  distinguished  subjects  were 
assembled  to  receive  him. 

After  the  ceremony  and  feast  was  over  a  grand  ball 
was  given,  and  great  illuminations  were  displayed,  and 
then  he  was  invited  to  make  plans  for  his  crown  which 
was  prepared  exactly  as  he  desired;  but  he  was  not  al- 
lowed to  claim  it  until  he  had  shown  his  courage  in  battle 
and  had  brought  victims  for  the  sacrifice  which  invariably 
followed  the  coronation. 

He  was  then  arrayed  for  battle,  and  his  brilliant  habili- 
ment consisted  of  a  tiger-skin  cuirass  covered  with  a  gold 
breast  plate,  half-boots  banded  with  gold,  and  wide  bands 
of  gold  upon  each  forearm ;  a  gold  ring  in  his  lower  lip 
set  with  emeralds.  An  elaborate  gold-chain  set  with 
precious  gems  was  fastened  about  his  neck,  and  a  tower- 
ing coronet  of  beautiful  feathers  was  placed  upon  his 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  229 

head,  large  bright  colored  plumes  were  secured  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  fall  upon  his  shoulders,  and  thus  equipped 
he  marched  forth  at  the  head  of  his  imposing  army  until 
they  were  lost  to  view. 

They  moved  rapidly  in  a  northerly  direction,  and  soon 
came  upon  a  small  band  of  roving  marauders,  which  they 
overpowered  in  a  short  unequal  struggle,  and  at  once  set 
about  to  return,  the  king  having  thus  satisfied  every  de- 
mand in  order  to  wear  his  crown  with  all  of  its  grand 
succession  of  honors. 

The  crown  which  he  had  designed  was  made  of  gold 
leaves  adorned  with  rare  and  beautiful  feathers  inter- 
laced with  threads  of  plaited  gold.  The  copilla,  or  crown, 
was  to  be  worn  upon  all  occasions. 

The  robe  prepared  for  him  to  wear  in  the  palace  was 
made  of  blue  cloth  with  fine  white  threads  running 
through  it,  and  the  one  which  he  wore  to  the  temple  was 
pure  white;  and  each  particularly  impressive  occasion 
had  its  particular  robe. 

Whenever  he  left  the  palace  he  was  invariably  ac- 
companied by  some  of  the  nobility,  of  whom  the  most 
distinguished  preceded  him  carrying  in  his  hands  rods  of 
odoriferous  wood,  set  in  gold  with  which  he  announced 
the  approach  of  the  king. 

When  the  carnival  and  coronation  ceremonies  were 
over  the  entire  attention  of  the  populace  was  consumed 
with  the  coming  festivities  of  Tlaloc,  as  there  was  no 
other  festival  which  called  for  such  mammoth  demonstra- 
tions and  ceremony.  It  combined  the  efforts  of  the 
four  allied  nations,  and  all  of  the  friendly  nations  who 
accepted  the  invitation  to  join  with  them  at  that  auspici- 
ous season. 

Centeotl  devoutedly  hoped  that    her    very    existence 


2$O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

might  be  overlooked  in  the  excitement  of  the  coming* 
carnival,  and  she  rapidly  regained  her  health  and  strength. 

Upon  several  occasions  when  she  had  been  able  to  sit 
near  the  open  doorway  she  had  been  somewhat  annoyed 
at  the  persistency  of  a  young  man  who  seemed  to  embrace 
each  opportunity  to  pass  the  door  when  it  was  open.  One 
of  the  guards  who  had  observed  her  ill-concealed  annoy- 
ance remarked  that  the  young  man  was  a  Toltec  slave 
and  the  best  jeweler  in  the  Tenochititlan  kingdom,  that 
he  had  recently  shown  marked  evidence  of  his  ability  and 
ingenuity  in  making  the  beautiful  crown  for  the  newly 
appointed  king. 

Centeotl  wisely  gave  no  outward  evidence  of  interest  in 
the  guard's  explanation,  but  her  heart  secretly  rejoiced 
at  the  episode,  and  she  felt  convinced  that  he  had  some 
motive  in  trying  to  attract  her  attention. 

The  guards  became  quite  lenient  during  her  illness,  and 
the  unusually  exciting  events  that  crowded  upon  each 
other  seemed  to  occupy  their  minds  far  more  than  vigil- 
ance. 

When  the  slave  again  appeared  the  guard  was  taking 
a  nap,  which  having  been  induced  by  octli,  was  deep  and 
prolonged,  and  he  ventured  near  the  doorway  and  Cen- 
teotl addressed  him  thus: 

"Are  you  the  Toltec  jeweler?" 

"  Yes,  and  my  name  is  Ptahtl.  I  have  written  you  a  few 
lines  which  I  am  afraid  to  repeat  as  we  cannot  tell  who 
may  overhear  us,  for  there  are  many  Chichimecas  who 
understand  the  Toltec  language,  having  been  taught  by 
the  slaves.  He  then  handed  her  a  note  which  described 
the  whole  plot  carried  out  by  unscrupulous  Topiltzin, 
which  account  tallied  exactly  with  the  one  given  by  the 
guards  who  died  in  her  defense  upon  the  fatal  day  that 
she  was  taken  captive,  and  it  contained  still  more,  a  com- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  231 

plete  description  of  the  treacherous  manner  in  which  he 
had  inveigled  the  Chichimeca  girl  Sekhetl,  into  following 
him  to  the  new  Tollan.  When  she  had  finished  reading 
it  he  enquired  eagerly : 

"Does  Sekehtl  appear  to  be  happy  in  her  new  home?" 

"I  know  nothing  whatever  about  such  a  girl,"  answered 
the  princess,  but  one  of  her  maids  ventured  to  say  that 
she  knew  of  the  girl,  and  that  she  came  to  Tollan  with 
Ezcolotl,  the  mother  of  Topiltzin,  and  that  she  was  well 
aware  of  the  fact  that  Sekhetl  was  very  much  dissatisfied, 
and  was  anxious  to  return  to  her  people.  These  words 
acted  like  magic  upon  the  features  of  the  slave,  and  his 
solemn  countenance  relaxed  into  a  smile  as  he  said : 

"She  shall  return,  and  very  soon,  ladies.  I  thank  you 
for  your  kind  attention,  you  have  lifted  a  heavy  load  from 
my  aching  heart.  Sekehtl  is  my  sweetheart,  and  she  shall 
yet  become  my  wife.  She  was  inveigled  away  by  the 
wiles  of  the  worst  villain  I  ever  knew  who  belonged  to 
any  nation  except  the  Chichimecas.  Now  if  there  is  any- 
thing you  wish  me  to  undertake  for  you  I  will  gladly 
attempt  it  at  any  cost." 

"Oh,  if  you  could  only  manage  to  assist  us  in  escaping 
from  this  dreadful  place?" 

"I  shall  certainly  endeavor  to  aid  you,  keep  up  your 
courage." 

At  that  moment  a  crowd  commenced  forming  in  the 
street  near,  and  the  slave  started  on  fearful  of  being  ob- 
served by  some  guard  who  would  report  him  as  convers- 
ing with  prisoners,  which  was  strictly  against  their  laws. 

A  sorcerer  was  in  the  midst  of  the  crowd  amusing  them 
with  feats  of  darinsr  and  mimicry.  The  moment  that 
Centeotl's  attention  was  attracted  toward  him,  she  be- 
came strangely  fascinated.  He  was  markedly  deliberate  in 
all  of  his  movements,  and  his  broad-brimmed  drooping  hat 


232  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

which  was  fantastically  decorated,  concealed  every  feature 
of  his  magnetic  countenance  except  his  finely  moulded 
chin,  which  was  hideously  painted.  His  hands,  which 
were  often  upraised  in  gesticulation,  she  observed  were 
exquisite  and  refined,  and  they  seemed  to  her  like  helpful 
hands  that  would  brave  any  danger  to  clasp  and  aid  a 
friend. 

At  last  as  the  eager  crowd  importuned  him  he  proceed- 
ed to  unravel  a  marvelous  and  pleasing  fortune  to  certain 
of  his  attentive  listeners,  and  the  moment  that  his  voice 
was  wafted  to  her  ears  she  was  startled,  delighted  and 
frightened !  Those  deep  mellow  impassioned  tones  of  the 
sorcerer  awakened  a  melody  in  her  soul  which  seemed 
to  make  her  heart  stand  still  for  very  joy.  There  was 
but  one  other  voice  in  all  of  the  world  like  his —  surely, 
but  just  one — she  arose  and  moved  nearer  the  entrance 
that  she  might  drink  in  those  tones  which  charmed  and 
soothed  her,  but  the  king's  messenger  appeared  like  an 
imp  of  evil  framed  in  the  doorway,  and  her  bounding 
pulses  contracted  in  alarm. 

Spurning  the  sleeping  guard  vigorously  with  his  san- 
daled foot,  the  messenger  reprimanded  him  for  sleeping 
at  his  post,  and  then  he  curtly  informed  him  that  the  prin- 
cess was  to  be  brougHt  before  the  new  king.  The  moment 
he  departed  she  noticed  the  dazed  and  bewildered  expres- 
sion of  the  guard,  and  she  resolved  upon  a  desperate  plan 
of  action,  urged  on  by  some  unseen  force  which  she  could 
not  resist.  Seizing  her  own  beautifully  embroidered 
mantle  from  off  her  shoulders,  she  beckoned  to  one  of  her 
maids  and  quickly  draped  it  about  her  head  in  a  manner 
to  conceal  her  features  except  the  eyes  which  were  widen- 
ed with  astonishment,  and  as  the  guard  pulled  himself  to- 
gether, she  commanded  her  in  tremulous  tones  to  follow 
him.  Stunned  at  the  unusually  stern  admonition,  and 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  233 

fearful  that  the  princess  had  relapsed  into  a  fever  again 
she  hastened  to  obey,  and  the  muddled  unsuspecting  guard 
ordered  her  to  advance  toward  the  palace. 

Centeotl  then  flung  the  maid's  shawl  about  her  own 
regal  head,  in  order  to  join  the  crowd.  The  sorcerer,  who 
seemed  intent  upon  watching  the  guard  and  maiden,  until 
she  moved  forward,  then  turned  with  evident  relief 
and  ventured  nearer  Centeotl  as  she  emerged  from  her 
prison  door,  and  joined  the  eager  crowd,  unobserved  by 
the  gaping,  relief  guard,  who  imagined  that  she  was  on 
her  way  to  the  king. 

Her  breath  came  in  quick  gasps,  and  her  frightened 
eyes  were  glued  to  the  earth  while  she  struggled  with 
emotions  which  she  could  hardly  control.  Some  strange 
element  in  the  air  about  her  gave  her  courage.  A  luring 
fascination  led  her  on  she  knew  not,  cared  not,  whither, 
and  filled  her  soul  with  ecstacy.  The  rise  and  fall  of  son- 
orous voices  about  her  sounded  afar  off,  and  it  seemed  to 
her  that  heaven  was  near,  and  the  gates  of  paradise  were 
flinging  wide  their  portals  to  receive  her,  and  the  enrap- 
tured tones  of  whispering  angels  peopled  the  perfumed 
air.  Her  feet  seemed  scarce  to  press  the  earth,  and  at  last 
a  strong  clinging  hand  clasped  hers  which  sent  a  wave  of 
joy  throughout  her  being,  while  that  matchless  voice 
whispered  in  her  ear : 

"Flee  for  your  life !" 

Swift  as  an  arrow  hurled  from  an  angry  hunters  bow 
they  leaped  away  from  the  crowd,  and  the  agile  sorcerer 
turned  his  fleeting  footsteps  in  the  direction  of  the  proph- 
et's cavern,  while  hoarse  cries  of  horror  and  dismay 
sounded  in  their  wake,  which  were  taken  up  by  many 
answering  shouts.  Life,  liberty,  and  love  were  bat- 
tling bravely  to  outrun  the  approaching  guards,  and  the 
cruel  sacrifice. 


234  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

The  grade  was  steep,  and  a  shower  of  arrows  ploughed 
into  the  dust  at  her  feet,  then  the  sorcerer  seized  the 
fainting  form  of  the  princess  in  his  strong  arms  and 
bounded  up  the  parapet  as  a  fresh  volley  of  arrows  beat 
viciously  against  the  haven  of  shelter  made  doubly  so  by 
superstitious  fears;  no  word  was  said,  but  the  intrepid 
Son  of  Maguey  clasped  the  princess  in  one  long,  loving 
embrace,  a  foretaste  of  heaven. 

Two  days  only  intervened  between  the  important  one 
which  would  usher  in  the  opening  ceremonies  of  the  fes- 
tival of  Tlaloc,  and  the  mountain  was  covered  with 
sheltering  bowers  prepared  from  fragrant  boughs  and 
trim  carrizo;  and  as  night  came  on  the  scene  presented 
a  picturesque  appearance,  when  the  camp-fires  of  the 
visiting  revelers  were  brightly  outlined  against  the  grim 
background  of  Mount  Tlaloc.  The  armies  of  King  Icoat- 
zin,  and  those  of  King  Aztec  were  congregated  there,  as 
were  also  the  Tezcocans  and  Xochimilcas.  The  latter  na- 
tion was  somewhat  mollified  toward  the  Chichimecas,  as 
the  new  king  was  favored  and  approved  of  by  their  repre- 
sentatives at  Tenochititlan,  who  had  succeeded  in  gaining 
the  promise  of  less  tribute  during  his  reign. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  235 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

WHEN  Topiltzin  returned  from  an  extended  reconnoi- 
ter,  bringing  with  him  the  force  sent  out  by  King  Nouh- 
yotl,  burdened  with  the  unwelcome  news  that  no  trace  of 
the  missing  princess  had  been  found,  he  announced  his  in- 
tention of  marching  on  to  Tenoehititlan,  and  he  secretly 
determined  to  take  the  troublesome  Sekhetl  with  him, 
trusting  to  his  ingenuity  to  make  terms  with  the  con- 
querors to  exchange  her  for  the  fair  princess  by  offering' 
a  generous  tribute  also. 

His  sway  had  been  so  absolute  since  the  disappearance 
of  the  princess  that  he  did  not  consult  the  king  in  regard 
to  the  course  which  he  intended  to  pursue,  but  he  assured 
the  royal  pair  that  their  child  should  soon  be  returned  to 
them,  and  he  hinted  darkly  that  he  had  just  learned  that  a 
deep,,  well-laid,  dangerous  plot  had  been  planned  to  en- 
snare the  princess  by  one  who  had  been  reported  to  him 
as  dead.  Without  waiting  to  be  questioned  further  by  the 
startled  and  bewildered  pair,  he  hastened  away  to  enmass 
a  substantial  army  and  equip  them  for  the  long  march. 

The  airs  and  graces  which  he  assumed  delighted  the 
grimalkin  Ezcolotl,  as  she  proceeded  to  inform  him  re- 
garding the  stolen  interview  between  the  messengers  from 
Tetlilicuan  and  the  troublesome  Sekhetl,  whom  she  de- 
nounced in  unmeasured  terms,  especially  since  she  became 
aware  that  the  girl  was  determined  to  assert  her  rights 
•  and  maintain  them,  and  it  had  never  before  occurred  to 


236  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

Topiltzin  that  she  could  ever  have  the  power  to  interfere 
with  any  of  his  plans  other  than  to  be  of  service  to  him — 
but  armed  with  any  message  which  the  runners  from 
Tetlilicuan  might  have  disclosed  to  her  in  the  stolen  in- 
terview, he  trembled  at  the  bare  possibility  of  her  dar- 
ing to  deliver  it  to  the  king  or  any  of  the  royal  house- 
hold. 

''Does  that  girl  ever  go  to  the  palace  in  my  aosence?" 
he  enquired  nervously  of  Ezcolotl. 

"No,  indeed;  I  am  too  careful  to  allow  that.  But  I 
tell  you  that  she  is  a  sly  one,  and  Has  a  heart  as  cruel  as 
any  of  her  race,  and  you  will  yet  rue  the  day  that  you  did 
not  listen  to  my  advice  and  leave  her  among  her  people." 

"Well,  she  is  here  now,  and  a  source  of  great  annoy- 
ance, but  do  not  allow  her  out  of  your  sight  for  a  mo- 
ment. Go  tell  her  that  I  have  accepted  the  invitation  to 
attend  the  ceremonies  at  Mount  Tlaloc,  and  ask  her  if  she 
wishes  to  accompany  me.  She  shall  go  just  the  same, 
whether  she  wishes  to  or  not." 

"Oh,  my  son,  in  pity  for  me  in  my  declining  years,  do 
not  run  the  risk  of  going  there  again.  Oh,  do  not,  I  im- 
plore you,  do  not!" 

"Have  no  fears  for  my  safety ;  those  people  are  sworn 
to  treat  every  person  as  a  guest  in  these  days ;  and  in  all 
of  the  years  which  have  intervened  since  the  fall  of  Tol- 
lantzingo  they  have  never  shown  any  treachery  during 
that  carnival  season,  and  I  shall  take  care  to  leave  Teno- 
chititlan  before  the  camp-fires  of  the  visitors  are  destroy- 
ed on  the  mountains." 

"And  what  of  Meconetzin?" 

"Never  you  mind  about  him!  I  do  not  wish  you  to 
mention  his  hateful  name  again  in  my  presence ;  there  is 
no  doubt  but  that  the  messengers  from  Tetlilicuan  knew 
of  the  disappearance  of  the  princess,  or  learned  of  it  here, 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  237 

and  he  will  hasten  to  her  rescue.  But  get  my  provision 
ready,  and  inform  Sekehtl  that  I  shall  start  without 
delay." 

When  he  was  ready  to  depart  he  found  Ezcolotl  guard- 
ing the  girl  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  and  when  he 
halted  he  exclaimed  nonchalantly: 

"Sekehtl,  I  am  going  to  the  season's  festivities  at  Mount 
Tlaloc ;  will  you  accompany  me,  my  sweetheart  ?" 

"With  great  pleasure,  Topiltzin.  I  am  really  homesick 
to  see  my  parents  again,  also  my  native  hills  and  vales." 

A  peculiar  note  of  triumph  rung  in  her  well  modulated 
voice  and  shone  in  her  gleaming  eyes,  which  caused  her 
listener  to  rivet  a  questioning  glance  into  her  mobile  face, 
but  the  tell-tale  windows  of  her  jealous  soul  sought  the 
ground,  and  he  quieted  the  uneasiness  which  was  aroused 
with  the  thought  that  she  should  remain  under  his  strict 
surveillance. 

He  positively  forbade  Ezcolotl  to  accompany  them,  and 
she  knew  that  it  were  better  for  her  to  remain  and  watch 
over  his  interests  there  as  the  crazed  and  prostrate  queen 
had  shown  confidence  in  her  as  a  nurse,  and  the  king  was 
was  very  civil  to  the  mother  of  his  greatest  general.  They 
left  her  weeping  bitterly  while  they  sped  swiftly  onward 
toward  the  stronghold  of  the  Chichimecas.  They  were 
enabled  to  make  rapid  progress,  and  the  girl  gave  no  sign 
that  she  knew  he  was  in  quest  of  the  princess  instead  of 
the  festivities,  and  he  daily  added  weight  to  her  injured 
feelings  by  making  desperate  love  to  her.  Toward  all  of 
these  acts  she  evinced  great  pleasure  apparently  and  con- 
fidence, but  a  cruel  triumphant  smile  often  lighted  up  her 
features  as  they  neared  the  vale  of  Tenochititlan. 

All  through  the  tedious  journey  wary  Topiltzin  was  en- 
deavoring to  form  a  feasable  plan  of  action  in  regard  to 
the  girl.  He  at  length  decided  to  place  himself  in  com- 


238  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

munication  with  the  jeweler  Ptahtl,  whom  he  imagined 
could  be  easily  convinced  that  the  deluded  girl  had  only 
feigned  sickness  in  order  to  accompany  them  to  the  new 
Tollan,  and  that  he  had  not  the  remotest  idea  of  the  fact 
that  she  was  in  love  with  himself  until  they  were  nearly 
at  the  end  of  their  long  journey,  and  that  she  had  utterly 
refused  to  return  with  the  guards  detailed  to  accompany 
her  to  the  place  of  rendezvous  where  he  had  planned 
that  she  should  meet  him ;  all  of  which  statements  should 
be  corroborated  by  his  men  who  dared  not  contradict  a 
syllable  of  his  utterances. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  239 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  welcome  and  important  day  of  the  festival  of 
Tlaloc,  the  god  of  rain,  dawned  beautifully,  and  all  nature 
was  clothed  in  its  most  becoming  garb;  joyous  peals  of 
laughter,  and  snatches  of  glad  song  rang  out  until  the 
hills  and  dales  took  up  the  strains  and  forced  them  again 
in  hilarious  echoes. 

The  embowered  heights  of  Mount  Tlaloc  had  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  fairy  scene,  so  charmingly  had  been  arrang- 
ed the  handiwork  of  those  people.  The  gay  colored  fes- 
tive crowd  which  emerged  from  the  gates  of  Tenochititlan 
presented  a  lively  scene  as  they  marched  forth  at  the 
sound  of  the  music  while  innumerable  coronets  of  beauti- 
ful feathers  waved  majestically  at  every  step,  lending 
added  distinction  to  the  appearance  of  their  stately  pos- 
sessors. 

The  golden  g-orl  Tlaloc  was  placed  upon  a  garlanded 
litter  and  borne  upon  the  shoulders  of  two  priests.  He 
was  adorned  with  a  crown  of  lilies  upon  his  head,  and  had 
a  wonderful  woven  basket  in  his  hand  from  which  de- 
pended two  golden  chains,  one  of  which  he  held  extended 
in  his  left  hand,  while  that  in  the  right  hand  was  clasp- 
ed to  his  breast.  The  basket  was  woven  in  the  shape  of 
long  plumes,  and  within  it  was  the  human-headed  soul- 
bird,  which  the  Toltecs  believed  often  returned  to  the  bod- 
ies of  departed  persons  bearing  in  its  claws  the  shentl, 
which  symbolized  the  sun's  path  in  the  heavens  and  the 


24O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

direction  to  the  sun,  which  the  Chichimecas  had  copied 
from  the  Toltecs  in  their  religious  ceremonies. 

Directly  behind  the  god-bearers  came  four  priests  carry- 
ing a  litter  composed  of  closely  woven  boughs  made  in  a 
quadrangle,  and  decorated  profusely  with  roses,  wherein 
was  conveyed  a  child  of  six  years. 

As  soon  as  they  reached  the  temple,  which  had  been 
prepared  on  the  mount,  they  were  met  by  their  king,  who 
bore  in  his  hands  elegant  new  robes  for  the  rain-god, 
which  he  immediately  proceeded  to  divest  of  its  old  ones, 
and  arrayed  in  them.  He  then  secured  a  handsome, 
necklace  of  costly  gems  about  its  neck,  arms  and  ankles, 
and  a  second  necklace  or  chain  bearing  the  cross  of  life 
was  placed  below  the  waist-line;  then  a  crash  of  music 
broke  the  silence  which  had  reigned  supreme  during  the 
king's  performance  of  courtesy  to  the  god. 

The  great  high  priest  then  advanced  to  the  litter  of 
boughs  and  severed  the  arteries  of  the  throat  of  the  little 
boy  within,  while  another  held  a  golden  cup  to  receive  the 
life-blood  which  the  great  high  priest  took  into  the  temple 
and  sprinkled  upon  the  idol  and  also  upon  all  of  the  people 
of  note  who  had  assembled  about  the  altar;  then  a  place 
was  cleared  to  receive  the  yearly  offerings  to  the  god 
Tlaloc. 

The  representatives  of  the  common  people  were  first 
permitted  to  make  their  offerings,  then  followed  the  mag- 
nificent donations  of  the  lords  and  nobles  of  all  of  the  in- 
vited guests,  as  well  as  those  from  the  Chichimeca  king- 
dom; then  they  all  adjourned  to  the  base  of  the  cliff 
where  another  temporary  temple  was  made,  in  the  center 
of  which  was  planted  one  large  sacred  tree  with  thick  im- 
penetrable branches  which  had  been  placed  there  with 
two  smaller  ones  upon  each  side  of  it. 

A  handsome  little  girl  dressed  in  blue  to  represent  the 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  24! 

waters  of  the  lake  was  brought  to  view,  and  a  red  collar 
was  placed  about  her  throat  while  plaintive  hymns  were 
sung,  and  the  musicians  played  a  mournful  dirge. 

The  child  wag  led  to  the  shores  of  the  lake  and  placed 
into  a  canoe  containing  a  bower  of  roses  and  a  boatman, 
who  rowed  in  advance  of  the  mourners  who  were  ferried 
in  the  sepulchral  barge,  which  had  a  decorated  shrine  or 
canopy  pylon-shaped  in  which  the  professional  wailing 
women  were  beating  their  faces  and  breasts,  tearing  their 
hair,  and  uttering  hideous  and  mournful  cries. 

The  three  sacred  trees  were  attached  to  the  funeral 
barge,  having  been  carefully  secured  together.  Follow- 
ing it  were  many  other  skiffs  all  plunging  forward  at  a 
rapid  rate,  which  were  met  by  the  advancing  canoes  of  the 
kings  and  nobles  who  had  waited  for  the  crowds  to  dis- 
perse before  they  made  their  costly  offerings,  which  had 
been  placed  in  a  secure  receptacle,  then  they  hurried  to 
the  shore  and  entered  their  canoes  in  time  to  meet  the 
others  at  the  center  of  the  lake  where  a  whirlpool  swerv- 
ed and  threatened. 

The  three  sacred  trees  were  heaved  into  the  turbulant 
vortex,  amid  the  shrieks  and  groans  and  prayers  of  the 
wailing  women,  and  when  they  careered  from  side  to  side 
and  finally  sank  from  view,  the  great  high  priest  ordered 
his  boat  to  be  brought  alongside  of  the  one  containing 
the  little  girl  whom  he  reverently  gathered  into  his  arms 
and  raising  his  right  hand  as  a  signal  to  the  musicians, 
who  pealed  forth  their  loudest  tones  to  drown  the  shrieks 
of  the  doomed  child,  whom  he  held  over  the  side  of  the 
boat  he  then  lanced  her  throat  from  ear  to  ear  with  a 
keen  obsidian  blade,  and  held  her  there  until  her  blood 
dyed  the  swirling,  angry  waters,  and  when  she  was  quite 
dead  he  dropped  her  body  into  the  lake  while  the  musi- 
cians chanted  solemn  anthems,  and  the  wailing  women 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

•uttered  suppressed  groans.  As  soon  as  the  little  blue 
'dress  sank  forever  from  view,  the  king  arose  and  a  deep 
silence  reigned  as  he  extended  both  hands  aloft  filled  with 
!  costly  jewels,  consisting  of  emeralds,  diamonds,  rubies, 
amethysts,  turquoises,  sapphires  and  opals,  which  reflect- 
ed every  ray  of  the  beaming  sunlight  as  he  scattered  them 
into  the  greedy  waves,  and  these  concluded  the  offerings 
to  the  rain-god  Tlaloc.  The  boats  were  then  turned 
shoreward,  and  the  multitude  returned  to  partake  of  the 
feast  which  awaited  them,  and  also  to  attend  the  magnifi- 
cent ball. 

King  Icoatzin  became  very  nervous  as  the  ceremonies 
drew  to  a  close,  and  his  searching  eyes  measured  the  dis- 
tance between  Mount  Tlaloc  and  the  prophet's  cavern 
many  times  during  the  revolting  ceremonies  which  he 
shrank  from  observing.  He  had  been  informed  by  Xolotli 
of  the  wonderful  success  of  the  sorcerer's  venture,  and 
knew  that  they  would  have  to  exercise  great  vigilance  in 
order  to  aid  the  prince  and  princess  beyond  the  limit  of 
the  Chichimeca  dominion.  He  had  brought  some  beauti- 
ful and  expensive  presents  to  King  Aztec  of  Culhuacan, 
and  also  expensive  offerings  to  the  rain-god,  which  were 
equal  to,  if  not  exceeding  in  value,  any  other  gift  of  the 
occasion. 

He  refrained  from  disclosing  the  facts  relating  to  the 
Toltec  princess  to  King  Aztec,  as  he  felt  that  he  could 
not  thus  seemingly  infringe  upon  or  betray  the  hospitality 
of  the  Chichimecas  with  any  breach  of  courtesy  in  the 
presence  of  one  of  their  subjects  although  a  very  indig- 
nant and  dissatisfied  one. 

He  waited  until  the  day  was  drawing  to  a  close,  when 
he  was  overjoyed  to  be  informed  by  the  best  jeweler  in 
the  Chichimeca  kingdom  that  a  band  of  Toltecs  had  ar- 
rived, who  had  been  sent  by  King  Nouyohtl  to  rescue  the 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  .'243 

prince  and  princess,  which  daring  feat  had  been  accom- 
plished during  the  progress  of  the  recent  ceremonies,  and 
that  they  were  then  upon  their  way  to  Tetlilicuan  where 
they  would  await  his  arrivel.  The  welcome  news  electri- 
fied the  kind-hearted  king  with  pleasure,  and  he  congratu- 
lated himself  upon  being  able  to  keep  from  sharing  the 
important  secret  with  anyone  however  friendly  disposed. 
He  then  summoned  his  army,  including  those  who  had 
t>een  sent  as  escort  to  Meconetzin,  who  had  insisted  upon 
their  joining  the  main  army  when  it  arrived  in  order  to 
avoid  the  suspicion  which  might  have  been  aroused  if 
they  were  discovered  detached  from  the  main  army. 


244  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

As  the  long  evening  wore  away  and  no  messenger 
came  from  King  Icoatzin,  who  had  promised  to  inform 
the  Son  of  Maguey  when  it  would  be  expedient  for  them 
to  make  their  departure,  he  grew  impatient  and  alarmed 
when  he  no  longer  saw  the  camp  fires  blazing  upon  Mount 
Tlaloc,  and  he  knew  by  that  token  that  all  of  the  friendly 
nations  had  taken  their  departure. 

He  decided  to  reconnoiter  in  order  to  convince  himself 
whether  a  messenger  lingered  near  at  hand,  who  through 
superstitious  fears  refrained  from  approaching  near 
enough  to  make  himself  known  or  heard. 

With  encouraging  words  to  Centeotl,  he  carefully 
described  to  her  a  given  signal,  which  when  she  heard 
she  must  let  herself  down  on  the  forest  side  of  the  cavern 
into  his  waiting  arms.  Then  he  descended  and  stealthily 
moved  away  while  she  waited  patiently,  inspired  anew 
by  his  hopeful  assurances  that  he  would  return  after  the 
lapse  of  a  very  few  moments.  He  believed  that  it  was  be- 
yond the  pale  of  human  reason  for  King  Icoatzin  to  neg- 
lect his  promise  to  aid  their  departure. 

Boisterous  shouts  of  laughter  rang  out  from  the  city, 
and  the  mountain  echoes  hurled  them  back  again  hoarse 
and  discordantly;  the  stars  sparkled  benignly  upon  her 
from  out  their  dense  blue  settings,  and  the  toying  breezes 
kissed  her  radiant  features  and  gently  lifted  the  waving 
tresses  from  off  her  broad  low  brow;  her  senses  were 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  245 

alert  to  every  passing  sound,  and  she  knew  no  fear  until 
dark  cumulus  clouds  gathered  together  and  shut  out  the 
beacon  light  of  the  heavens,  then  her  heart  throbbed  pain- 
fully with  suppressed  emotions. 

At  last  the  cheery  signal  rang  forth  in  guarded  tones, 
and  she  immediately  let  herself  down  into  the  outstretched 
arms  ready  to  receive  her,  and  was  rapidly  borne  away. 
An  overpowering  sense  of  fear  crept  over  her  which  was 
suffocating;  the  dense  gloom  prevented  her  from  be- 
holding the  owner  of  the  strong  pair  of  arms  that  held 
her,  but  the  divine  sense  of  security,  such  as  she  had  al- 
ways known  in  the  presence  of  Meconetzin,  was  wanting, 
and  she  needed  no  glare  of  light  to  convince  her  that  her 
rescuer  was  not  the  Son  of  Maguey.  Still  the  thought 
inspired  her  that  perhaps  he  had  been  delayed  by  King 
Icoatzin  and  had  thus  been  obliged  to  send  a  substitute, 
for  who  else  could  possibly  know  the  peculiar  signal  which 
they  had  agreed  upon,  and  the  manner  in  which  she  should 
answer  it;  she  heard  the  stealthy  foot-fall  of  many  fol- 
lowers, but  no  word  was  spoken  for  several  hours. 

With  miraculous  powers  of  endurance  the  rescuer  fled 
without  halting,  until  his  quick  panting  breath  warned 
her  that  his  strength  was  fast  failing  him,  and  he  stagger- 
ed to  an  inviting  rock  which  was  surrounded  by  a  body  of 
warriors,  who  reclined  in  the  flickering  shadows  of  a 
dying  camp-fire,  and  as  he  sank  down  exhausted,  a  ray 
of  light  shone  directly  upon  his  face,  and  the  startled 
princess  looked  up  into  the  triumphant  basilisk  eyes  of 
hated  Topiltzin. 

With  a  low  moan  of  anguish  she  sank  into  a  deadly 
swoon,  and  the  alarmed  warriors  gathered  about  her 
while  he  endeavored  to  bring  her  back  to  consciousness. 

A  firm  vehicle  of  boughs  was  quickly  woven  together 
by  the  men,  and  he  placed  her  tenderly  upon  it,  and  com- 


246  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

manded  a  part  of  his  men  to  hasten  on  toward  Tetlilicuan 
with  the  princess  that  she  need  not  see  him  among  their 
number  when  she  aroused. 

He  decided  to  remain  there  an  hour  or  so  in  order  to 
renew  his  overtaxed  strength,  which  had  been  sorely  tried, 
and  he  stretched  himself  upon  the  earth,  and  bade  his 
men  put  out  the  camp-fires,  and  scarcely  had  the  order 
fallen  from  his  lips  than  a  cautious  tread  sounded  near 
them  followed  by  many  more,  and  the  jeweler  with 
Sekehtl  stepped  resolutely  into  their  midst  like  some 
avenging  nemesis,  while  a  sullen  look  of  cowering  annoy- 
ance and  fear  crossed  the  features  of  Topiltzin. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR*  247 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  new  king  Tenochititlan  being  anxious  to  impress 
upon  his  subjects  latent  depths  of  wisdom  and  financial 
ability,  called  a  council  and  submitted  to  them  a  plan  by 
which  they  could  not  only  make  themselves  felt  in  power 
to  a  greater  extent  than  ever,  but  also  replenish  their 
possessions  by  concentrating  them  in  their  stronghold  as 
much  as  was  transportable,  and  the  theory  could  at  once 
be  put  into  practice  by  demanding  semi-annual  tributes 
of  their  subjects. 

He  argued  that  the  Culhuacas  were  becoming  each  year 
more  independent  and  wealthy,  and  the  recent  friendli- 
ness evinced  by  them  toward  the  Tetlilcuans  and  all  of  the 
other  Toltecs  was  a  decided  menace  to  them  with  their 
superior  military  tactics  and  advanced  methods 
of  warfare,  which  had  proved  so  efficient  in  conquering 
the  highly  civilized  Toltecs,  and  he  argued  the  possibility 
of  their  forming  an  alliance,  which  calamity  would  be  a 
serious  one,  and  to  prevent  such  a  catastrophe  it  were 
better  to  cripple  their  resources  at  once.  These  import- 
ant facts  were  laid  before  the  council  and  carefully  can- 
vassed by  them,  but  they  did  not  summon  the  representa- 
tive of  the  Culhuacas  to  attend  the  meeting.  They  unani- 
mously seconded  the  king's  views  which  were  then  pro- 
claimed amended  laws. 

An  embassador  from  Tenochititlan  was  sent  to  the  lord 
of  state  at  Culhuacan  requiring  him  to  make  known  the 


248  TJIE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

fact  that  a  tribute  was  needed  at  once  to  assist  in  defray- 
ing the  enormous  expense  attending  the  recent  festivi- 
ties, and  he  carried  with  him  the  war-god  Huitzilopochtli, 
by  which  token  the  demand  should  be  fulfilled  at  once,  or 
a  declaration  of  war  would  follow  without  further  notice 
or  delay. 

A  second  ambassador  was  sent  to  the  whole  nobility, 
warning  them  to  persuade  the  lord  of  state  to  make  the 
restitution  demanded  in  order  to  avoid  war. 

A  third  ambassador  was  sent  to  the  people  informing 
them  that  the  tribute  was  extremely  necessary,  and  ex- 
plaining why. 

As  soon  as  they  arrived  at  Culhuacan  and  presented 
their  demands,  King  Aztec  called  a  council,  and  the  list 
of  tributes  demanded  was  placed  before  them,  which 
was  as  follows: 

Forty  bars  of  gold  of  stated  weight. 

Forty  bars  of  silver,  ditto. 

Twenty  cups  of  gold  dust. 

Six  handsome  necklaces  oj^QnHcalds^set.in  gold.- 

Twenty  pairs  of  amber  ear-pendants  set  in  gold. 

Twenty  pairs  of  crystal  ear-pendants  set  in  gold. 

Ten  measures  of  turquoises. 

Forty  elegant  leaves  of  gold  of  stated  dimensions. 

Twenty  bags  of  cochineal. 

Four  thousand  handfulls  of  beautiful  feathers. 

Sixteen  thousand  large  leaves  of  parchment. 

Sixteen  hundred  loads  of  rubber. 

Four  thousand  bags  of  lime. 

Four  thousand  loads  of  otatl  for  building  purposes. 

Ten  thousand  bundles  of  canes  for  darts. 

Eight  thousand  loads  of  odoriferous  canes. 

Six  hundred  measures  of  honey.  - 

Forty  large  jars  of  yellow  ochre. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  249 

Eight  thousand  mats. 

Eight  thousand  benches. 

Each  peasant  was  notified  to  contribute  a  stated  num- 
ber of  hewn  rocks  for  building  purposes,  also  a  stated 
number  of  hewn  wooden  beams. 

A  stated  amount  of  copalli  for  the  censer. 

Forty  live  eagles. 

Forty  quadrupeds  of  each  kind  abounding  in  the  forest. 

Every  peasant  unable  to  provide  the  above  was  com- 
manded to  come  to  Tenochititlan  and  work  out  a  stipu- 
lated tax  or  be  sold  into  slavery. 

King  Aztec's  indignant  council  decided  at  once  that  the 
demand  was  an  outrage,  it  being  in  excess  of  the  yearly 
demand,  and  they  declared  that  it  should  not  be  paid. 

The  lord  of  state  seized  the  war-god  from  the  hand  of 
the  ambassador,  and  placed  it  among  their  divinities  there- 
by showing  a  determination  to  resist  the  exorbitant  de- 
mand for  tribute,  by  force  of  arms. 

The  three  ambassadors  were  then  held  as  prisoners  in 
behalf  of  their  representative  at  Tenochititlan,  and  their 
lives  would  be  forfeited  if  harm  came  to  him. 

Commands  were  at  once  given  for  strong  defenses  to  be 
made,  and  a  runner  was  sent  to  Tetlilicuan  with  a  request 
to  King  Icoatzin  askjng  that  the  aged  and  infirm  men  and 
women  and  children  might  be  sheltered  there  until  the 
hostilities  should  cease.  A  request  which  was  at  once 
granted  by  him. 

A  large  battle-field  was  laid  out  some  distance  from  the 
city  which  was  prepared  with  deep  trenches  and  well- 
planned  breastworks,  which  could  resist  the  flying  ar- 
rows and  pelting  slings. 

The  imposing  army  of  Culhuacan  was  separated  into 
two  divisions  of  eighteen  thousand  each,  and  at  the  head 
of  each  division  was  a  general  known  in  their  language 


25O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

as  a  Tlacatecatl,  and  the  standard  bearer  who  always 
stood  next  to  him  was  the  next  in  importance. 

Several  days  after  the  departure  of  King  Icoatzin  from 
Culhuacan  on  his  homeward  journey  from  the  festival  of 
Tlaloc,  Xolotli  appeared  there  excited  and  careworn,  and 
sought  an  interview  with  King  Aztec  whom  he  begged  to 
send  help  to  succor  Prince  Meconetzin,  whom  he  said  was 
dangerously  wounded,  and  that  he  had  concealed  him  in 
a  cavern  several  leagues  from  there  on  the  road  leading 
to  Tenochititlan.  The  request  was  promptly  granted,  and 
an  escort  was  provided,  that  started  without  delay. 

Xolotli  had  thoughtfully  walled  up  the  entrance  to  the 
cavern,  knowing  that  if  any  person  approached  the  place 
during  his  absence  and  heard  groans  issuing  from  within, 
that  they  would  imagine  the  place  was  haunted,  and  flee 
from  the  vicinity  in  terror. 

When  the  escort  headed  by  the  faithful  slave  reached 
the  novel  retreat,  the  latter  was  sinking  with  exhaustion 
and  fear,  as  he  heard  no  sound  issuing  from  within,  but 
with  the  aid  of  the  willing  Culhuacas  he  soon  made  an 
opening,  and  found  the  prince  still  alive,  although  un- 
conscious, and  they  tenderly  laid  him  upon  the  cot  which 
they  had  brought,  and  returned  with  him  to  the  city. 

The  court  physicians  shook  their  heads  ominously, 
when  they  examined  the  wound  which  Xolotli  had  attend- 
ed to  to  the  best  of  his  ability.  Special  herbs  were  prepared 
and  placed  upon  the  wound,  and  stimulating  teas  were 
administered  to  him  until  they  had  the  gratification  of 
seeing  that  the  fever  had  relinquished  its  grasp.  When 
he  had  but  partially  regained  consciousness  the  first  word 
which  his  parched  lips  framed  was : 

"Centeotl !" 

Xolotli  hastened  to  assure  him  with  what  he  fervently 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2$  I 

hoped  might  be  true,  and  he  bravely  said  to  the  eager 
sufferer,  "She  is  safe  and  well." 

He  was  fearful  that  any  doubts  in  that  direction  might 
cause  a  relapse,  which  they  all  feared  and  dreaded.  The 
unusual  commotion  consequent  to  the  energy  of  the  people 
who  were  laboring  continually  to  prepare  the  necessary 
resistance  against  the  Chichimecas  seemed  to  lend  strength 
to  the  emaciated  form  of  wounded  Meconetzin,  who  had 
so  seriously  endangered  his  existence  by  insisting  upon 
marching  on  toward  the  friendly  Culhuaca  kingdom  when 
he  should  have  quietly  nursed  the  terrible  wound, 
as  Xolotli  had  pleaded  with  him  to  do,  and  only  for  the 
timely  aid  of  some  slave  herb  gatherers,  who  at  the  risk 
of  their  lives  framed  a  litter  of  boughs  and  carried  him 
on  his  journey  for  nearly  a  moon,  and  then  hurried  back, 
trusting  to  the  relaxation  of  their  stringent  rules  at  the 
auspicious  month  of  the  festival  of  Tlaloc,  he  had  never 
been  able  to  make  the  journey,  but  the  taunting^ 
words  of  Topiltzin  rang  in  his  ears  as  he  fell  by  his 
treacherous  hand : 

"Die  !  die !  you  calculating  hypocrite !  She  is  mine 
now,  my  men  are  bearing  her  to  my  domain — "  and  then 
the  black  pall  of  unconsciousness  enveloped  him,  until  the 
faithful  Xolotli  found  him  and  resuscitated  him  to  the 
extent  that  he  insisted  upon  fleeing  from  the  Chichimeca 
kingdom.  He  had  a  growing  desire  to  be  of  service  to 
the  Culhuacas  in  their  noble  effort  to  throw  off  the  gall- 
ing yoke  of  greedy  Chichimecas. 

Xolotli  proved  himself  a  host  in  devising  many  valu- 
able methods  for  the  improvement  of  their  defenses  which 
/were  suggested  by  the  prince,  who  soon  became  able  to 
walk  about  for  a  short  time,  and  he  reveled  in  feasting 
his  eyes  upon  the  smiling  face  of  nature  which  seemed 
burnished  anew  for  his  delight  and  admiration. 


252  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

The  ramparts  destined  to  lead  an  important  feature 
in  the  approaching  crisis  arose  sullenly  before  him,  and 
thoughts  of  the  coming  conflict  recalled  the  horror  he  had 
felt  when  he  saw  the  keen  bronze-blade  lunged  murder- 
ously toward  his  breast  by  the  cruel  hand  of  Topiltzin. 

Several  weeks  later  a  Culhuaca  scout  arrived  who  an- 
nounced the  near  approach  of  the  army  of  the  Chichi- 
mecas.  The  news  was  welcome  to  the  heroic  Culhuacans, 
who  were  camped  upon  their  battle-ground  with  every 
sense  alert  and  every  weapon  ready.  Meconetzin  chafed 
at  the  weakness  which  held  him  in  check,  for  he  longed 
to  aid  the  friendly  nation  who  had  so  kindly  assisted  him 
in  his  gravest  hour  of  need,  and  he  devoutly  hoped  that 
the  coming  siege  would  forever  free  them  from  the  ignor- 
ant rule  of  the  prevaricating  conquerors. 

The  morning  sun  had  not  arisen  when  the  enemy  ap- 
peared to  view  conspicuous  in  their  hideous  war-paint, 
and  grotesque  in  their  crude  protecting  masks.  They 
were  ranked  into  three  divisions,  the  first  being  the  order 
of  princes,  who  were  commanded  by  their  new  king,  and 
each  member  of  that  division  who  had  distinguished  him- 
self in  battle  was  fancifully  adorned  with  gold  breast- 
plate and  huge  coronet  of  beautiful  feathers,  in  addition 
to  the  substantial  war  costume,  and  masks  made  to  rep- 
resent gods;  but  those  who  had  not  distinguished  them- 
selves in  battle  were  clothed  in  garments  made  of  coarse 
white  fibres  of  maguey,  and  they  were  painted  and  mask- 
ed in  the  same  manner  as  their  victorious  comrades. 

The  king  was  very  imposing  in  all  of  his  war  para- 
phernalia, and  pompously  issued  his  commands  with  an 
assurance  which  was  truly  alarming. 

The  second  military  order  was  called  the  Tigers,  and 
each  brave  in  that  division  wore  a  spotted  cuirass  made 
from  the  pelt  of  the  carniverous  beast  for  which  they 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  253 

were  named;  some  of  the  men  of  that  division  by  virtue 
of  past  bravery  wore  in  addition  to  their  war  costume, 
breast  plates  of  gold,  silver  and  copper,  according  to  the 
magnitude  of  their  achievements  in  the  past,  and  each 
member  of  that  division  had  a  mask  made  to  represent  a 
tiger. 

The  third  military  order  was  called  the  Eagles,  by  which 
name  the  whole  Chichimeca  army  had  been  known  previ- 
ous to  their  alliances  and  conquest  of  the  Toltecs.  Their 
coronets  were  made  of  eagle-feathers,  as  were  also  the 
cuirasses  which  they  wore,  and  their  most  distinguished 
members  were  provided  with  breast  plates  of  gold,  silver 
and  copper  according  to  their  merits,  and  their  masks 
were  made  to  represent  the  eagle. 

The  most  esteemed  person  in  their  whole  army  was 
their  general,  known  in  the  Chichimeca  language  as  the 
great  Quachictin,  who  planned  the  method  of  attack  and 
engineered  the  whole  army ;  upon  him  depended  the  suc- 
cess or  failure  of  the  tide  of  battle.  His  long  hair  was 
caught  up  and  secured  upon  the  top  of  his  head  with  a 
thick  crimson  cord,  from  which  depended  as  many  tassels 
as  he  had  won  victories,  and  his  head  was  adorned  with 
many. 

The  signal  of  attack  given  by  him,  was  begun 
by  beating  savagely  upon  a  small  drum  which  hung  from 
his  left  shoulder,  and  the  shrieking  Huehuetl  took  up  the 
challenge,  followed  by  the  screaming  Teponaztli  and  the 
rattling  Ajacacaxtli,  which  instruments  they  man- 
ipulated in  such  a  manner  as  to  bring  forth  every  blood- 
curdling cry. 

The  courageous  and  defiant  armies  of  Culhuacan  were 
nerved  to  the  loftiest  heights  of  valor  and  determination, 
and  they  made  a  splendidly  formidable  appearance  like 
some  vast  sea  of  waving  plumes,  and  they  were  led  by 


254  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

their  great  general,  called  Tlacatacatl,  who  proudly  flaunt- 
ed quite  as  many  careering  tassels  upon  his  dusky  hair 
as  adorned  his  enemy.  They  wore  no  masks,  but  were 
fantastically  painted,  and  every  brave  was  protected  with 
large  breast-plates  of  various  metals  and  designs  accord- 
ing to  their  merits. 

Simultaneous  with  the  first  notes  of  warning  from  the 
enemy,  the  answering  band  of  music  made  by  the  able 
Culhuacas  hurled  them  deafening  strains  of  defiance  while 
their  solid  wall  of  human  forms  leveled  their  taut  bows 
and  burnished  arrows  to  a  deadly  purpose  upon  the  ad- 
vancing Eagles. 

Again  and  again  the  mortal  charge  was  made,  while 
louder  and  still  louder,  shriller  and  yet  pathetic,  pealed 
forth  the  demoniac  shrieks  of  the  war-alarm  drowning  the 
groans  of  the  wounded  and  dying — nearer  and  more  dead- 
ly became  the  terrible  charge  when  they  dropped  their 
bows  and  advanced  with  the  dreaded  miquahuitls  and 
vicious  tlacachtlis  which  drew  rivers  of  blood  from  either 
side,  and  the  Eagles  wavered  under  the  magnificent  and 
ferocious  charge  of  the  gallant  Culhuacas.  The  Tigers 
advanced  to  relieve  them,  and  the  flashing  breast-plates 
of  the  proud  princes  and  reserves  advanced  in  a  solid 
body  and  were  borne  to  the  front  where  the  Eagles  and 
Tigers  were  straining  every  nerve  and  muscle  against  the 
deadly  onslaught  of  the  liberty-loving  Culhuacans,  and 
they  were  managing  to  secure  many  prisoners  for  the 
sacrifice  by  a  treacherous  flank  movement.  Their  strategy 
was  plainly  visible  to  excited  Meconetzin,  who  had  climb- 
ed a  mammoth  cedar  tree  to  witness  the  fearful  siege. 
His  hot-blood  leaped  and  surged  within  him  as  he  saw 
with  consternation  the  increasing  number  of  prisoners 
which  the  manouvering  princes  were  securing  for  the 
sacrifice;  he  saw  too,  that  the  brave  Tlacatacatl  who 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  25$ 

led  the  Culhuacas  was  dreadfully  wounded.  Blood  was 
streaming  from  his  face  and  neck  and  gushing  from  his 
bosom !  A  feeling  of  horror  flamed  in  the  breast  of  the 
Toltec  prince  as  he  measured  the  chances  of  defeat  for  the 
friendly  nation.  He  saw  the  Tlacatacatl  reel  and  stagger 
against  the  standard-bearer,  but  still  he  urged  his  army 
on;  should  he  fall  before  success  is  assured  the  whole 
army  will  turn  and  flee  in  wild  confusion,  which  no  power 
but  death  can  hold  in  check.  They  charged  with  their  ma- 
cauas  into  the  very  teeth  of  the  Chichimecas,  but  the 
brave  Tlacatacatl's  right  hand  caught  the  staff  of  the 
standard  to  steady  his  fainting  form.  The  whole  army 
of  Culhuacan  was  wavering!  They  no  longer  heard  his 
urging  voice  in  that  fearful  moment  of  suspense!  Me- 
conetzin  waited  to  see  no  more,  like  some  avenging  spirit 
he  leaped  from  those  sheltering  branches,  beat  his  way 
to  the  foremost  ranks  and  pressed  his  burning  temple  close 
beside  the  dying  Tlacatacatl,  while  the  drooping  folds  of 
the  dripping  emblem  concealed  his  purpose  for  a  brief  mo- 
ment, and  before  they  realized  their  terrible  loss  an  inspir- 
ed leader  arose  among  them  wearing  the  blood-dipped 
tassels,  whose  stern  words  of  command  thrilled  and 
encouraged  the  wavering  army,  urging  them  to  plunge 
ferociously  into  the  ranks  of  the  Chichimecas  and,  anew 
burst  forth  the  maddening  crash  of  music  which  each  mo- 
ment grew  more  triumphant,  until  the  ranks  of  the  enemy 
thinned  and  they  faltered  before  that  trumpet-toned  chal- 
lenging urging  voice  upon  whose  steady  vibration  the 
whole  army  of  Culhuacan  depended. 

A  hoarse  cry  of  horror  rang  forth  as  their  Quachictin, 
the  most  valiant  leader  who  ever  drew  a  Chichimeca  bow, 
was  felled  to  earth;  swiftly  the  shivered  tyrants  with 
their  reeking  weapons  turned  and  broke  in  wild  confu- 
sion, although  their  imperative  king  commanded  them  to 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

stand  their  ground,  but  they  heedlessly  continued  their 
mad  flight,  and  he  was  forced  to  yield  and  follow  them, 
protected  by  the  remnant  of  the  band  of  princes,  who  were 
urging  their  prisoners  on  in  the  wake  of  the  fleeing  army. 
Among  them  was  Topiltzin,  shackled  and  shrinking 
until  he  appeared  to  be  dwarfed  to  half  his  natural  size, 
as  he  was  hurried  on  at  the  point  of  the  darts  in  the  hands 
of  the  retreating  princes. 

A  divine  sense  of  pity  entered  the  bruised  but  mag- 
nanimous bosom  of  the  Son  of  Maguey,  who  urged  his 
willing  followers  to  the  rescue  of  the  prisoners,  and  they 
beat  down  the  king's  guards  who  preferred  death  to  the 
disgrace  of  relinquishing  them. 

All  of  the  murderous  jealousy  and  rivalry  in  the  breast 
of  treacherous  Topiltzin  was  subdued  as  they  severed  the 
searing  cords  that  bound  him,  and  he  encountered  the  elo- 
quent gaze  of  the  noble-hearted  prince ;  he  tried  to  speak, 
to  utter  some  grateful  words  of  acknowledgement,  but 
his  parched  tongue  seemed  too  paralized  to  do  his  bidding, 
while  in  the  presence  of  injured  Meconetzin.  With  diffi- 
culty he  thrust  a  numbed  lacerated  hand  into  his  bosom 
and  snatched  the  key,  which  he  had  stolen  from  the  prince 
at  the  time  he  dealt  him  the  murderous  blow,  and  he 
dropped  upon  his  knees  as  he  returned  it  to  the  worthy 
hero,  whose  countenance  was  glorified  with  the  divine 
light  of  forgiveness. 

An  ovation  awaited  the  prince,  who  was  faint  and  ex- 
hausted and  glad  to  seek  the  welcome  shelter  of  the  room 
alloted  to  him. 

A  cordon  of  assistants  headed  by  Xolotli  were  detailed 
to  bring  in  and  care  for  the  wounded,  and  another  posse 
dug  trenches  and  buried  the  dead. 

Many  were  the  trophies  found  upon  the  battle-field,  in- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  257 

eluding  bows,  arrows,  slings,  darts,  maces,  pikes,  tlac- 
achtli  and  miquahuitls  and  macanas. 

Many  of  the  bows  were  so  large  that  their  strings  were 
five  feet  in  length,  from  which  they  shot  arrows  with 
points  of  sharpened  bone,  flint  and  thorns  of  maguey,  and 
the  warriors  were  so  skilled  that  they  were  able  to  throw 
three  and  four  of  those  arrows  at  a  time ;  the  tlacachtlis 
were  made  of  hardened  wood  with  three  long  prongs  of 
copper,  ixtli  or  bone,  and  of  sufficient  length  to  pass 
through  a  human  body,  and  they  were  tied  securely  to  the 
arm  of  the  thrower  which  enabled  him  to  draw  them 
back  again. 

The  miquahuitl  was  the  most  formidable  of  all  of  their 
weapons,  and  made  the  greatest  havoc  during  action;  it 
was  made  in  the  form  of  a  spade  of  very  hard  wood  three 
and  one-half  feet  in  length,  and  with  several  prongs  on 
either  side,  which  were  of  sufficient  depth  and  strength  to 
hold  immense  thorns  of  maguey,  which  were  glued  into 
grooves  thick  and  close  on  all  sides  and  at  the  ends,  and 
were  fastened  securely  to  the  arm  of  the  throwers  who, 
when  they  forced  it  into  a  body  injured  him  beyond  all 
aid. 

The  trophies  belonging  to  the  dead  Quachictin  were  the 
most  valuable,  consisting  of  victorious  badges,  his  heavy 
gold  breast-plate,  and  necklace  or  rare  jewels  and  heavy 
amulets  of  gold  and  his  cuirass. 

The  next  of  value  were  the  belongings  of  the  princes 
who  wore  huge  crests  of  beautiful  .feathers,  and  their 
shields,  called  chimalli,  were  of  value  according  to  their 
military  degree,  and  some  of  them  were  large  enough  to 
protect  the  whole  body.  These  were  made  of  gold,  silver 
and  turtle  shells  riveted  with  gold,  silver  or  copper,  and 
some  were  made  of  pelts  covered  with  rubber,  and  some 


2 $8  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

of    canes    tied    together    with    coarse    cotton    threads 
and  covered  richly  with  feathers. 

Next  to  the  body  was  always  worn  the  defensive  cuirass 
which  was  made  of  cotton,  wadded  to  a  depth  of  several 
inches,  which  was  always  covered  by  their  shields.  The 
most  expensive  cuirass  was  upon  the  body  of  the  great 
Quachictin,  which  was  covered  with  a  large  plate  of  gold, 
and  was  completely  hidden  with  beautifully  wrought 
leaves  of  gold  and  fancifully  decorated  around  the  edges 
with  heavy  gold  fringe  made  of  pure  gold  wire,  which 
was  depended  from  flat  gold  braid  artistically  riveted 
upon  the  cuirass,  and  with  his  immense  breast-plate  to 
shield  him  he  was  in  very  little  danger  unless  off  his 
guard. 

By  the  side  of  the  dead  general  lay  the  standard  bearer 
with  the  royal  ensign  of  emerald  green,  trimmed  with 
t>ands  of  gold  and  gold  leaves  and  flowery  designs  of 
brilliant  feathers.  The  flag  was  fastened  to  the  standard, 
ivhich  was  secured  so  firmly  against  the  straight  body  and 
shoulders  of  the  warrior  that  it  had  worn  a  deep  channel 
into  the  flesh,  which  had  to  be  cut  away  before  it  could 
be  removed. 

Nothing  of  value  was  found  upon  the  common  soldiers 
except  their  loin-sashes,  as  they  went  into  battle  with  their 
bodies  painted  to  represent  the  garments  worn  by  the 
nobles. 

The  proud  Culhuacas  had  never  scored  such  a  splendid 
victory  as  that  which  freed  them  from  the  tyrannical  rule 
of  the  crafty  and  exacting  Chichimecas. 

King  Aztec  and  all  of  his  subjects  showered  deep  grati- 
tude upon  Prince  Meconetzin,  whose  military  skill  and 
daring  action  had  saved  their  army  from  defeat  and  given 
their  nation  coveted  freedom;  but  the  undue  excitement 
caused  a  relapse  and  shock  to  the  weakend  system  of  the 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  259 

prince  who  was  therefore  obliged  to  keep  his  bed  for  sev- 
eral anxious  days ;  in  the  meantime  he  was  cheered  with 
the  news  that  a  runner  sent  from  Tetlilicuan  had  assured 
them  that  Centeotl  and  the  band  belonging  to  Topiltzin 
were  the  guests  of  King  Icoatzin,  where  they  would  re- 
main until  further  orders. 

To  faithful  Xolotli  the  message  was  a  god-send,  for  it 
tallied  with  that  which  he  had  said  to  Meconetzin  when  he 
feared  for  the  consequences  if  he  related  to  him  then  the 
simple  truth — that  he  knew  nothing  whatever  as  to  her 
whereabouts — and  he  was  startled  and  gratified  at  his 
own  foresight  which  savored,  he  thought,  of  the  miracul- 
ous for  his  truthful  nature  revolted  at  a  falsehood. 

The  assurance  of  her  safety  was  a  feast  to  Topiltzin, 
for  he  had  heard  from  one  of  the  guards  that  the  aveng- 
ing Sekehtl  had  not  only  laid  a  snare  for  himself,  which 
deprived  him  of  his  liberty,  but  had  also  forwarded  troops 
to  overtake  the  detachment  of  Toltecs  who  were  con- 
veying the  princess,  and  he  pictured  her  as  again  a 
prisoner  upon  whom  some  severe  punishment  would  be 
inflicted  for  her  having  escaped;  but  now  that  the  terrible 
doubt  was  set  at  rest,  a  complete  revulsion  of  feeling  en- 
tered his  narrow  soul.  He  envied  Meconetzin  the  honors 
which  he  had  earned,  and  the  increasing  ovation  which 
was  showered  upon  him  and  the  lofty  position  which  he 
was  entitled  to  by  right  of  inheritance,  but  more  than  all 
else  combined  was  the  envy  which  he  bore  him  for  the 
love  which  he  knew  Centeotl  cherished  for  Meconetzin, 
and  he  could  not  tear  her  loved  image  from  his  own  selfish 
heart,  and  his  thoughts  lingered  in  sweet  memory  of  the 
blissful  moments  when  her  soft  cheek  rested  asrainst  his 
bosom  as  he  swiftly  bore  her  away  from  the  haunted 
cavern  where  she  had  descended  so  trustingly  into  his 
eager  outstretched  arms. 


260  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

He  had  concealed  himself  at  the  foot  of  the  caverri 
from  the  moment  that  the  shades  of  night  grew  dense 
enough  to  aid  him,  and  had  heard  the  prince  explain  the 
signal  and  the  manner  in  which  she  should  answer  him, 
and  then  he  followed  the  unsuspecting  hero  until  they 
were  far  enough  from  the  cave  that  no  sound  could  pos- 
sibly reach  her,  and  he  then  confronted  him  with  the  mur- 
derous blow ! 

And  now  the  laudations  of  his  bravery  regaling  him 
upon  every  side  aroused  and  expanded  the  venom  of  his 
evil  nature  like  some  mocking  demon  incessantly  remind- 
ing him  what  advantages  would  be  his  if  the  prince  had 
fallen  a  victim  to  the  sun-god,  and  yet  over  all  hung  that 
fearful  menace  from  which  he  had  just  been  rescued  by 
that  same  noble  being  whom  his  jealous  soul  envied  ex- 
istence. 

When  he  had  seen  the  towering  form  of  brave  Meconet- 
zin  arise  above  the  dying  leader  equipped  with  the 
insignia  of  his  rank,  and  had  rallied  the  wavering  army 
of  Culhuacan,  his  very  soul  shrank  within  him.  He 
thought  that  the  avenging  spirit  of  the  dead  prince  had 
arisen  to  confront  him  with  his  villainous  treachery  and 
crime. 

That  the  brave,  noble  and  unselfish  hero  had  not  di- 
vulged the  shameful  fact  that  it  was  his  hands  had  dealt 
the  savage,  murderous  blow  was  evident  from  the  con- 
siderate manner  in  which  he  was  treated  by  the  Culhua- 
cas;  but  still  his  groveling  soul  would  not  be  satisfied, 
and  he  kept  comparing  his  lot  with  what  it  might  be  if 
he  were  the  husband  of  Centeotl ;  in  that  secure  position 
he  would  no  longer  envy  the  prince.  Finally  the  thought 
entered  his  mind  that,  despite  the  insulting  message 
which  he  had  sent  to  Meconetzin  while  he  was  a  guest 
at  Tetlilicuan,  which  was  undoubtedly  made  known  to 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  26 1 

King  Icoatzin  also,  he  would  go  at  once  to  that  domain 
and  take  charge  of  his  men,  and  perhaps  he  could  per- 
suade the  princess  to  accompany  him  to  her  home.  The 
thought  nerved  him  greatly,  and  buoyed  up  many  hopes 
which  had  previously  suffered  keen  defeat. 

As  these  plans  ran  riot  in  his  evil  and  contracted  mind, 
with  them  came  a  wish,  discarded  at  first,  but  gradually 
gaining  ground,  to  retain  at  whatever  cost  that  coveted 
power  and  influence  which  his  brief  reign  as  the  repre- 
sentative of  king  Nouyohtl  had  given  him.  The  wish  be- 
came the  evil  genius  of  a  terrible  suggestion.  When  the 
runner  from  Tetlilicuan  was  leaving  the  city  he  sent  a 
servant  to  inform  him  that  he  should  say  to  his  king  that 
the  prince  had  taken  a  relapse  and  that  his  death  was  mo- 
mentarily expected  and  recovery  utterly  impossible ! 

After  this  was  done  he  found  various  means  of  keep- 
ing the  servant  employed  until  he  knew  that  the  runner 
could  not  possibly  be  overtaken,  then  he  enquired  care- 
lessly : 

"Oh,  did  you  carefully  deliver  the  message  which  was 
to  be  sent  to  king  Icoatzin  regarding  the  Prince?" 

"Yes  sir,  exactly  as  you  gave  it  to  me  I  delivered  it." 

"Repeat  it  to  me  that  I  may  be  sure  of  it?" 

"Say  to  your  king  that  the  Prince  has  taken  a  relapse 
and  his  death  is  momentarily  expected,  and  that  recovery 
is  utterly  impossible !" 

"Fool !  fool,  fool !  Oh  ye  gods !  ye  gods,  I  said  nothing 
of  the  kind — oh,  you  addle-pated  know  little,  you  lying, 
shying  reptile !  You,  you  consummate  imp  of  every  evil 
power — get  out  of  my  sight — no,  don't  you  dare  to  move 
until  I  have  broken  every  bone  in  your  mind-forsaken 
body — I  said  to  you,  you  Vermin,  exactly  the  opposite 
meaning — I  said  that  he  had  not  taken  a  relapse,  but  that 
if  he  did  recovery  would  be  utterly  impossible — oh,  what 


262  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

a  stupid  mistake  you  have  made,  it  will  kill  his  promised 
bride !  If  I  should  engage  the  fleetest  runner  in  this  king- 
dom he  could  not  possibly  overtake  the  one  who  has  now 
several  hours  the  start  and  the  dreadful  mischief  will 
have  been  done" 

"But,  pardon  me  sir,  but  you — you  certainly  did  say 
so." 

"Wretch !  dare  you  contradict  me  ?  Come  here  until  I 
wring  every  drop  of  carrion  blood  from  out  your  beastly 
carcass ! 

"When  this  false  report  is  made  known  to  king  Aztec 
he  will  make  short  work  of  you,  why,  the  prince  will  soon 
be  able  to  make  the  journey  himself — well,  such  a  grave 
mistake  as  this  must  be  reported  without  delay  and  a 
fresh  runner  must  be  forwarded  at  once,  but  I  very  much 
fear  that  the  princess  cannot  survive  the  terrible  shock 
of  receiving  such  a  message." 

"Oh,  whatever  shall  I  do?  I  certainly  did  understand 
you  to  say  the  very  words  which  I  gave" 

"Do?  Just  prepare  yourself  for  a  trip  to  sunland  on 
very  short  notice,  that  is  about  all  that  you  can  do." 

"Oh,  good  sir,  do  not  I  pray  you — oh,  I  implore  you  do 
not  report  this  to  the  king?  I  am  already  in  disgrace  for 
having  kept  some  of  the  trophies  from  the  late  battlefield 
which  were  valuable — I  was  a  king's  guard  and  to  punish 
me  I  am  obliged  to  do  duty  as  a  common  servant  for  a 
whole  year." 

"But  the  report  must  be  made  and  the  message  correct- 
ed as  far  as  possible  this  very  day." 

"No,  no,  sir,  the  king  will  surely  think  I  did  it  mali- 
ciously— oh  was  there  ever  another  such  an  unfortunate 
man  in  this  whole  world  ?  Is  there  nothing  which  I  may 
do  to  influence  you  in  my  favor  or  at  least  to  have  you 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  263 

make  the  disclosure  in  sucH  a  manner  that  the  king  will 
not  order  my  execution  ?" 

"Such  a  blunder  is  not  easily  corrected;  the  young 
princess  is  easily  shocked,  I  know  her  very  well,  she  was 
my  own  sweetheart  until  the  prince  became  enamored  of 
her  and  tried  to  show  his  authority  over  me,  and  thus  he 
lured  her  from  me.  She  was  certainly  influenced  by  his 
title  which  she  certainly  does  not  need,  being  a  princess 
born,  but  he  really  has  some  uncanny  powers  or  is  con^ 
trolled  by  them  and  they  seem  to  delight  in  exercising 
their  influence  through  him  and  grant  him  whatever  he 
wishes." 

"Do  you  not  think  that  your  deluded  sweetheart  would 
come  back  to  you  if — if,  the,  if  that  message  had  been 
true?" 

"Oh,  I  do  not  know,  I  dare  not  trust  myself  to  think  of 
that,  I  do  not  know  how  long  the  influence  of  an  evil 
power  may  cling  to  one,  but  she  has  set  her  heart  on  the 
prince  through  that  means  and  the  shock  of  that  message 
will  of  course  kill  her;  you  can  understand  what  a  host  of 
demons  urge  him  to  do,  you  saw  how  he  was  urged  on 
by  those  unseen  spirits  who  aided  him  to  accomplish 
what  he  did  upon  the  late  battlefield;  I  am  truly  afraid 
of  him  and  so  are  all  of  our  Toltec  people;  but  I  must  go 
and  see  about  this  dreadful  blunder" 

"Oh,  sir,  do  spare  me !  I  should  think  that  you  would 
really  be  glad  if  that  message  were  true" 

"Oh,  that  is  nothing  to  me,  I  am  no  prince,  neither  am 
I  in  league  with  evil  powers." 

"Pardon  me,  sir,  but  pray  tell  me  is  it  true  that  he  real- 
ly escaped  from  the  sacrifice  of  Tezcatlipoca  ?" 

"Yes,  it  is  absolutely  true,  but  where  did  you  hear  of 
it?" 

"From  one  of  the  prisoners  who  was  at  that  time  one 


264  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

of  his  guards — now,  if  he  is  such  a  strange,  uncanny  per- 
son, that  message  should  come  true — and  I  am  sure  that 
deep  down  in  your  heart  you  agree  with  me,  now  is  not 
that  a  fact?" 

"I,  oh,  I  cannot  say,  I  can  only  think  of  trying  to  cor- 
rect that  statement  and  thus  save  the  woman  whom  I 
adore  from  pain." 

"If  sir — if  the  message  should  come  true,  then  there 
will  be  no  need  of  a  correction,  will  there  ?" 

"Why  of  course  not,  you  dolt,  but  that  were  impossible, 
he  is  reported  as  gaining  rapidly  every  hour." 

"Sir,  if  she  loved  the  title  better  than  the  man  that  need 
not  be  lost,  some  one  else,  perhaps  yourself,  can  wear  it, 
and  if  she  is  influenced  by  the  evil  spirits  that  control 
him,  then  she  is  certainly  in  a  dangerous  condition  and 
it  were  better  for  her  to  return  to  her  natural  existence 
which  she  would  do  in  time  when  not  influenced  by  him — 
take  my  word  for  it,  for  I  have  been  known  as  something 
of  a  sorcerer  myself — that  the  princess  will  not  die  of  the 
disease  known  as  shock !  She  may  grieve  keenly  but 
gradually  the  love  which  she  has  borne  you  will  return 
and  she  will  forget  him  although  he  be  far  more  imposing 
than  yourself." 

"You  villain !  you  dare  tell  me  right  to  my  face  that 
the  prince  is  more  imposing  than  I  ?" 

"And  is  he  not  imposing?  Have  you  not  explained  to 
me  that  he,  aided  by  evil  spirits,  accomplished  the  greatest 
feats  known  to  this  generation  ?  Miracles !  Victories,  and 
stole  your  love  away  from  you  ?  How  can  he  then  accom- 
plish all  of  those  things  without  imposing  upon  all  of  us  ?" 
"Well,  have  your  own  way  about  it — are  you  acquaint- 
ed with  the  assistant  who  relieves  Xolotli  in  watching 
over  him  now  ?" 

"Too  well  indeed,  he  is  my  brother-in-law." 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  265 

"I  will  confess  to  you  that  I  have  been  imposed  upon 
quite  recently  by  him  through  that  undue  influence  which 
he  exercised  over  me  to  get  a  key  away  from  me  which  I 
very  much  need  and  which  I  am  very  desirous  of  getting 
possession  of  again,  and  if  you  will  manage  to  recover  it 
for  me  I  shall  spare  you  until  that  time,  from  the  disgrace 
of  being  reported." 

"And  if  the  message  does  come  true  you  will  not  need 
to  report  me?  Yes  sir,  I  can  and  will  return  to  you  the 
key  if  it  is  upon  his  person  or  in  his  room — his  evil  spirits 
cannot  prevent  me  from  sending  him  into  the  land  of 
dreams — oh  yes  sir,  I  can  do  all  of  these  things,  for  I,  too, 
am  a  sorcerer,  and  the  message  shall  come  true!" 

"Nonsense,  you  are  no  prophet,  but  if  you  should  ac- 
cidently  discover  the  ke)  and  will  deliver  it  to  me  without 
mentioning  the  fact  to  a  living  being,  I  promise  you  that 
I  shall  not  report  you  until  after  that." 

"Then  sir  you  need  never  report  me,  never !  Why  sir,  a 
being  like  that  is  not  half-human  who  is  influenced  by  an 
army  of  evil  spirits,  and  I  am  told  that  he  was  fed  by 
them  for  months  with  invisible  food  in  an  invisible  man- 
ner, and  there  is  no  doubt  in  my  mind  that  he  will  demand 
the  half  of  our  kingdom  at  least  for  the  late  services  which 
he  rendered  our  nation — ah,  he  is  certainly  a  dangerous 
animal — and  it  will  be  better  in  every  possible  instance  if 
the  message  does  come  true." 

Topiltzin  was  well  pleased  to  receive  the  key  in  a  short 
time  after  the  foregoing  conversation,  which  he  had  re- 
turned to  the  prince  in  the  first  moments  of  real  gratitude 
which  he  ever  knew,  and  he  made  no  further  enquiry  of 
the  servant  who  again  assured  him  that  the  message 
should  come  true  before  the  setting  of  another  sun  and  in 
such  a  neat  manner  that  the  least  suspicion  could  rest 
upon  no  one  and  assuring  him  in  an  impressive  way  that 


266 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 


sorcerers,  such  as  himself,  were  capable  of  making  things 
very  unpleasant  for  certain  individuals  if  they  chose  to 
exert  their  power  in  their  direction,  but  he  hastened  to 
assure  him  that  this  was  not  a  menace  to  him  but  espec- 
ially to  those  who  were  influenced  by  a  host  of  evil 
spirits. 

Topiltzin  was  too  well  pleased  to  receive  the  key  at  his 
hands  to  question  his  ability  in  any  other  direction,  and 
he  did  not  apparently  notice  the  well-veiled  menace  in- 
sinuated by  the  cunning  ex-guard,  whom  he  kindly  thank- 
ed in  an  abstracted  manner  and  then  hastened  to  make 
ready  for  his  departure.  He  first  paid  his  parting  respects 
to  the  king,  showering  gracious  acknowledgement  upon 
him  for  his  kind  hospitality  and  remarking  gravely  that 
he  hoped  the  time  was  not  far  distant  when  the  Toltecs, 
aided  by  the  victorious  Culhuacas,  could  unite  to  exter- 
minate the  grasping  Chichimecas ;  to  this  well  made  prop- 
osition the  king  bowed  respectfully  and  bade  him  good- 
bye. 

He  then  cautiously  approached  the  room  which  was  oc- 
cupied by  the  prince,  but  before  he  could  enter  it  Xolotli 
informed  him  that  the  prince  was  sleeping  and  he  turned 
away  glad  to  be  relieved  from  a  parting  interview. 

The  moment  he  was  fa?  enough  upon  his  journey  to  be 
safe  from  intrusion  he  eagerly  drew  the  key  from  its  con- 
cealment and  examined  it  critically.  He  forced  the  secret 
spring  and  searched  eagerly  for  the  tiny  scroll  of  instruc- 
tions, which  he  had  overheard  king  Nouyohtl  confess  to 
the  queen  was  the  sole  object  of  his  great  desire  in  order- 
ing the  search  to  be  made  for  it ;  and  as  the  space  within 
was  empty  when  he  stole  it  from  the  supposed  dead  body 
of  the  prince  upon  the  eve  of  the  festival  of  Tlaloc,  he 
had  hoped  that  the  prince  would  have  replaced  the  covet- 
ed scroll  when  he  restored  the  trophy  to  him  upon  the  late 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  26/ 

field  of  carnage;  but  now  the  thought  nerved  him  that 
perhaps  the  scroll  had  been  abstracted  by  another  than  he, 
who  probably  placed  no  value  upon  the  same,  for  he  could 
not  believe  that  Meconetzin  would  wish  to  destroy  it  be- 
fore having  shown  it  to  king  Nouyohtl,  and  what  other 
receptacle  could  possibly  be  as  secure  as  it  for  the  carry- 
ing  of  the  same? 


268  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

ALTHOUGH  greatly  fatigued  when  he  arrived  at  Tet- 
lilicuan  Topiltzin  decided  to  push  onward  to  the  New  Tol- 
lan  in  order  to  avoid  any  possible  chance  of  meeting  the 
envoys  which  king  Aztec  had  proposed  to  send  to  bring 
hi=  people  home — and  also  to  carry  presents  to  king  Icoat- 
zm  which  were  not  quite  ready  to  be  sent  when  he  had 
started.  They  consisted  of  jewels,  feathers,  games,  bars 
of  gold  and  silver,  some  parchment  and  many  valuable 
trophies  from  the  recent  battle,  also  a  large  be  jeweled 
disc  and  rubber  ball  for  playing  their  favorite  game. 

Upon  his  arrival  at  Tetlilicuan  his  band  of  soldiers 
hailed  him  with  apparent  delight  and  proceeded  to  offer 
every  available  excuse  for  having  continued  upon  their 
journey  without  him,  assuring  him  that  they  had  waited 
two  days  upon  the  trail  hoping  that  he  would  overtake 
them,  then  fearful  that  he  had  been  captured,  they  listen- 
ed to  the  pleading  of  the  princess  and  proceeded  on  as  she 
was  fearful  that  they  might  fall  victims  to  some  maraud- 
ing band. 

The  spirit  of  Topiltzin  was  revived  as  he  once  more 
took  command  of  his  men,  and  he  courteously  informed 
the  king  that  he  desired  an  interview  with  the  princess 
Centeotl. 

"She  is  utterly  prostrate  at  the  dreadful  news  which 
has  recently  been  received  from  Culhuacan,  and  I  believe 
that  she  will  be  unable  to  meet  you." 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  269 

"From  Culhuacan  ?  What  possible  news  can  interest 
her  from  Culhuacan  ?" 

''Are  you  not  aware  of  the  struggle  between  the  Chichi- 
mecas  and  Culhuacas?" 

"No,  I  have  been  a  prisoner  for  several  weeks — was 
taken  in  my  attempt  to  rescue  the  princess  and  when  I 
managed  to  escape,  I  avoided  every  one  until  I  reached 
this  place;  so  they  have  been  at  war?  Who  became  vic- 
torious ?" 

"The  Culhuacas,  through  the  timely  assistance  of  prince 
Meconetzin,  who  rallied  and  led  them  on  to  victory  when 
their  Tlacatecatl  received  his  mortal  wound." 

"Why  should  such  glorious  news  prostrate  the  prin- 
cess?" 

"The  prince  was  suffering  from  a  dreadful  wound  at 
the  time  of  the  conflict  and  may  have  been  wounded  again 
— the  latest  report  is  that  he  has  taken  a  relapse  and  that 
recovery  is  impossible !" 

The  crafty  features  of  Topiltzin  qualed  at  the  sound  of 
these  words  uttered  in  the  commanding  tones  of  sympa- 
thetic king  Icoatzin,  while  the  prophetic  words  of  the  ex- 
guard  were  continually  repeating  themselves  in  his  tor- 
tured brain;  but  the  demon  of  jealousy  clamored  loudly 
in  his  being  reminding  him  that  the  princess  would  never 
shed  a  tear  for  him  were  he  reported  dying,  and  the  bitter 
knowledge  called  up  a  wave  of  sarcasm  in  his  breast  and 
he  exclaimed : 

"If  the  princess  is  prostrated  over  this  news  to  the  ex- 
tent that  she  cannot  give  a  moment's  notice  to  her  royal 
father's  greatest  general,  then  I  must  venture  onward 
without  delay — I  must  admit,  however,  that  I  am  shocked 
at  such  terrible  news  from  the  prince  who  seems  to  have 
developed  a  remarkable  faculty  of  escaping  from  one 
horrible  fate  to  be  menaced  by  another — it  would  seem  as 


27O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

if  the  protecting  power  of  Quetzalcohuatl  had  deserted 
him — and  he  surely  cannot  have  aimed  to  follow  in  the 
footsteps  of  our  meek  and  lowly  Toltec  Savior,  to  meet 
with  such  opposition  and  disaster — I  must  now  bid  you 
adieu  for  it  is  my  duty  to  hasten  homeward  and  relieve 
the  anxiety  of  the  king  and  queen." 

"Indeed  Topiltzin,  you  must  imagine  that  I  am  want- 
fag  in  courtesy — I  have  sent  a  runner  to  apprise  them  of 
her  safe  arrival  here."  The  king  was  surprised  at  the 
look  of  annoyance  which  crossed  the  face  of  the  boastive 
chieftain  with  whom  he  scorned  to  bandy  words  regard- 
ing heroic  Meconetzin. 

"Will  you  kindly  despatch  a  message  to  the  princess  to 
the  effect  that  I  am  about  to  move  on  to  her  father's  king- 
dom and  if  she  desires  to  forward  any  communication  to 
them  that  I  will  gladly  deliver  the  same?" 

"I  will,  I  am  always  ready  to  be  of  service  in  any  justi- 
fiable cause." 

There  was  a  note  of  condemnation  in  the  penetrating 
accents  of  the  king's  voice  which  conveyed  volumes  of 
suppressed  scorn  and  doubts  of  his  integrity,  a  fact  which 
nettled  him  exceedingly,  but  was  forgotten  when  he  was 
informed  that  the  princess  would  grant  the  favor  of  a 
moment's  interview.  A  tumult  of  emotions  assailed  him 
the  instant  her  dark,  sorrowful  eyes  were  raised  to  his 
and  they  were  laden  with  accusation  which  seemed  to 
arouse  the  enormity  of  his  base  ingratitude  toward  the 
noble  prince  who  had  so  generously  succored  him  at  a 
time  of  deadly  peril.  The  very  air  he  breathed  seemed 
laden  with  reproachful  tones  aroused  by  her  tear-laden 
voice  as  she  said : 

"Topiltzin,  how  did  you  know  that  I  was  waiting  in 
the  prophet's  cavern  for  the  very  signal  which  you  gave  ?" 

He  could  not  control  himself  sufficiently  to  meet  her 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2/T 

questioning  gaze  as  he  made  answer  to  her  startling 
words : 

"That  signal  is  well  known  to  Meconetzin  and  I  since 
we  were  children,  and  I  supposed  that  he,  too,  was  with 
you  in  the  cavern,  as  Phtatl  the  jeweler  told  me  that  he 
had  rescued  you  and  that  was  why  I  knew  where  to  find 
you — the  forest  was  alive  with  prowling  Chichimeca 
scouts  anxious  about  the  slaves  in  consequence  of  the 
friendly  Tetlilicuans  having  attended  the  ceremonies,  you 
know  that  their  hospitality  ended  when  the  procession 
left  Mount  Tlaloc." 

"How  can  I  place  any  confidence  in  your  statement  re- 
garding the  signal,  knowing  that  you  betrayed  him  into 
the  hands  of  the  Chichimecas  when  you  first  arrived  at 
Tenochititlan." 

"Princess  Centeotl,  believe  me,  I  have  been  shamefully 
maligned  in  regard  to  that  affair — if  the  prince  and  his 
men  had  remained  with  mine  all  would  have  turned  out 
differently — but  he,  with  the  escaped  slave  Xolotli,  ven- 
tured too  near  the  city  and  was  taken  prisoner  by  the 
guards  at  Chapultepetl  upon  the  very  eve  of  his  arrival, 
and  this  is  the  truth." 

He  had  somewhat  recovered  his  customary  audacity 
and  he  glossed  the  deception  with  a  fervent  glance  of 
adoration  from  which  she  visibly  shrank,  as  she  said : 

"Have  the  kindness  to  tell  my  parents  that  I  am  anx- 
ious to  come  home — just  as  soon  as  I  hear  again  from 
Culhuacan" — her  voice  faltered,  but  with  a  supreme  effort 
she  continued  : 

"Tell  them  to  send  an  escort  immediately" 

"My  men  are  at  your  disposal — I  will  proceed  alone — 
they  have  conducted  you  safely  from  Tenochititlan  and 
will  gladly  continue  the  espoinage  if  you  will  permit 
them  to  do  so ;  I  cannot  understand  why  the  prince  should 


272  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

have  left  you  at  the  cavern  alone  and  unprotected  while 
he  hurried  on  to  Culhuacan  to  gain  laurels?" 

"He  is  utterly  incapable  of  such  an  act — he  was  wound- 
ed while  reconnoitering  for  the  army  of  king  Icoatzin 
and  the  friendly  Culhuacas  probably  rescued  him  and 
carried  him  to  Culhuacan,  for  the  runner  said  that  he  was 
brought  there  unconscious  several  weeks  before  the  open- 
ing of  the  siege ;  nothing  else  would  have  kept  him  from 
returning  to  me.  I  am  really  grateful  to  you,  Topiltzin, 
for  having  rescued  me  upon  that  dreadful  night,  since 
you  have  assured  me  that  you  came  to  rescue  the  prince 
also ;  but  I  would  rather  die  with  him  than  live  to  mourn 
his  loss !"  Her  proud  head  drooped  and  hot  tears  trickled 
through  the  delicate  fingers  which  covered  her  weeping 
eyes ;  the  sight  moved  the  culprit  beyond  compare  and  all 
of  his  former  diplomacy  and  caution  was  flung  to  the 
winds  when  he  saw  the  idol  of  his  heart  in  tears.  Losing 
control  of  his  emotions  he  exclaimed : 

"Oh  Centeotl,  loved  one,  do  not  say  such  cruel  words 
to  me — what  were  all  of  the  united  heavens  and  earth  to 
me  without  your  love — I  would  willingly  relinquish  all  of 
my  hope  of  Sunland  to  share  my  life  with  yours  here." 

"Hush !  Topiltzin,  I  will  not  remain  to  hear  you  defile 
the  air  I  breathe  with  words  which  you  must  know  are 
bitterly  repulsive  to  me;  I  shall  ever  be  loyal  to  my  Me- 
conetzin  whether  he  be  alive  or  dead!" 

As  she  uttered  these  words  she  turned  abruptly  away, 
leaving  him  crest-fallen  but  still  persistently  hopeful,  his 
lips  closed  firmly  and  a  deep  resolve  shining  in  his  rest- 
less eyes  as  he  saw  her  glide  away  until  she  vanished  from 
his  sight,  then  he  left  the  palace  and  summoned  his  wait- 
ing braves  and  they  all  marched  onward  toward  the  New 
Tollan.  One  thought  engrossed  his  mind  for  hours  as 
they  hurried  on  the  march — would  the  princess  change 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  273 

her  mind  in  time?  He  scourged  his  soul  with  regret  for 
having  intruded  his  declaration  upon  her  in  those  hours 
of  suspense  and  fear — but  of  one  thing  he  felt  certain  that 
the  message  would  come  true!  He  was  powerless  to  pre- 
vent it  now,  and  his  guilty  conscience  struggled  to  in- 
vent some  quieting  excuse  for  his  base  ingratitude  and 
treachery  to  cling  to  and  in  dismay  at  the  overwhelming 
convictions  which  forced  themselves  upon  him,  he  raised 
his  eyes  toward  heaven  as  if  daring  to  beseech  interces- 
sion from  on  high,  but  the  dazzling  purity  of  the  beam- 
ing sky  seemed  to  shut  out  his  sight  and  he  staggered 
for  a  moment  as  if  from  the  effect  of  an  unseen  blow. 

When  they  arrived  at  their  destination  and  Ezcolotl 
rushed  forth  to  meet  them,  a  look  of  fear  mantled  her 
countenance  as  she  nervously  enquired: 

"Where  is  Centeotl?" 

"Safe  and  well  at  Tetlilicuan,  she  was  too  proud  to 
come  home  with  me." 

"Oh  my  Topiltzin,  I  am  so  happy  to  have  you  safe  at 
home  again  that  I  do  not  care  what  eccentricities  have 
developed  in  the  mind  of  the  princess  so  long  as  she  is 
well — a  runner  came  here  who  informed  us  of  her  safe 
arrival  at  Tetlilicuan,  but,  my  son,  he  murdered  my  poor 
heart  with  anxiety  by  telling  me  that  you  were  a  prisoner 
at  Tenochititlan." 

"I  was  and  I  escaped  by  a  miracle!  That  Chichimeca 
beast  Sekehtl  was  all  that  you  prophesied  her  to  be,  and 
more ;  by  and  by  I  will  tell  you  all ;  I  have  now  the  or- 
iginal key,  and  I  am  going  to  the  palace." 

He  was  warmly  welcomed  by  the  royal  pair,  and  the 
moment  that  he  delivered  the  message  sent  by  their  child, 
the  king  announced  his  intention  of  starting  at  once  for 
Tetlilicuan,  and  the  queen  declared  that  she  would  go 
also,  and  she  said  to  the  king : 


274  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

''You  have  left  your  affairs  in  charge  of  Topiltzin  be- 
fore, and  may  do  so  again;  I  cannot  wait  any  longer 
to  see  my  child;  I  had  thought  that  the  prince  would 
have  brought  her  here  before  this;  why  did  he  not  join 
your  band  also,  Topiltzin?" 

She  saw  him  start  nervously  at  mention  of  that  name, 
and  her  alert  suspicion  was  aroused.  He  saw  that  they 
knew  the  prince  had  not  been  sacrificed,  and  what  more  ? 
His  very  soul  shivered  at  the  thought,  but  recovering  him- 
self he  replied : 

"We  arrived  at  Tenochititlan  the  morning  of  the  festi- 
val of  Tlaloc,  and  we  knew  that  we  would  not  be  molest- 
ed that  entire  day,  and  through  strategy  I  learned  that  the 
prince  had  succeeded  in  escaping  the  sacrifice  in  some 
marvelous  manner,  and  that  he  had  ventured  into  the  city 
disguised  as  a  sorcerer  and  had  managed  to  rescue  the 
princess,  and  that  they  had  taken  refuge  in  the  haunted 
cavern.  King  Icoatzin  had  arranged  to  meet  them  at  a 
certain  rendezvous  and  bring  them  on  to  his  kingdom. 
Disguised  as  a  Chichimeca  I  attended  the  festival  and 
closely  observed  King  Icoatzin,  who  seemed  worried  by 
the  responsibility  forced  upon  him,  and  grew  very  nerv- 
ous while  measuring  the  chances  of  success.  King  Aztec 
was  constantly  beside  him,  and  I  am  sure  that  he  insisted 
upon  their  returning  together  to  Culhuacan,  as  they  had 
come  together.  I  then  set  about  making  plans  to  relieve 
him  of  his  great  burden,  for  it  would  have  been  a  terrible 
stigma  upon  himself  and  people  if  they  had  been  dis- 
covered aiding  any  prisoners  or  slaves  to  escape  while  a 
guest  of  the  Chichimecas.  I  sent  him  word  that  a  band  of 
Toltecs  had  arrived  who  would  rescue  the  prince  and 
princess,  and  when  it  grew  dark  I  stationed  my  braves  at 
a  certain  distance  from  the  cavern  while  I  went  to  the 
base  of  the  cliff  and  gave  a  well  remembered  signal  known 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

only  to  he  and  I,  and  the  princess  appeared  upon  the 
parapet  and  let  herself  down  into  my  arms  without  a 
word,  and  I  turned  and  fled  with  her  thinking  that  Me- 
cpnetzin  would  surely  follow.  I  dared  not  stop  to  make 
any  enquiries  because  the  forest  was  alive  with  Chichi- 
meca  scouts,  and  I  hurried  on  for  several  hours  until  I  was 
forced  to  halt  from  sheer  fatigue.  Then  my  men  made 
a  conveyance  of  boughs  to  bear  the  princess  onward,  and 
I  bade  them  proceed  with  her  while  I  rested  for  a  short 
time,  guarded  by  a  detachment  of  my  men.  She  had  been 
carried  out  of  the  range  of  my  vision,  and  fortunately  too, 
for  we  were  surrounded  by  Chichimecas  before  I  had 
rested  an  hour,  and  we  were  ordered  back  to  Tenochitit- 
lan,  where  I  was  made  a  prisoner  for  several  weeks." 

But  he  failed  to  add  that  he  had  managed  to  escape,  and 
had  been  overtaken  by  the  army  on  their  way  to  Culhua- 
can  to  begin  the  siege,  which  accounted  for  his  being 
found  among  the  prisoners  at  that  place. 

"During  your  imprisonment,  there  did  you  hear  no- 
thing regarding  the  prince?  We  are  very  anxious  to 
know  something  about  him,"  asked  the  king  eagerly. 

"Nothing  of  his  exact  whereabouts;  there  has  been 
a  secret  reaction  in  the  minds  of  the  Chichimecas  which  is 
ominous  to  the  Culhuacans  whom  they  suspect  of  high 
treason.  The  Toltec  slaves  have  always  fostered  a  mutin- 
ous spirit  quite  natural  under  the  surveillance  of  such 
ignorant  masters,  but  the  feeling  was  aroused  to  a  greater 
extent  by  the  prince  whom  I  believe  has  never  relinquish- 
ed the  desire  to  regain  his  lost  kingdom,  and  it  would  ap- 
pear that  he  was  rather  indifferent  to  our  aid,  or  that  he 
intended  to  manage  the  entire  affair  expecting  your 
majesty  and  all  of  your  subjects  to  be  subserviant  to  his 
will.  I  did  hear  rumors  that  he  had  gone  on  to  Culhua- 
can  to  enlist  the  sympathies  of  that  nation  in  his  behalf 


276  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

in  order  to  begin  the  siege  at  once.  Remember,  this  is  a 
rumor,  one  which  I  heard  while  I  was  a  captive;  and  it 
was  also  said  that  when  King  Tenochititlan  demanded  the 
customary  annual  tribute  of  King  Aztec  that  he  utterly  re- 
fused to  pay  it,  which  is  a  strong  proof,  a  certain  proof 
that  the  influence  of  Meconetzin  has  reached  a  climax 
there.  You  know,  King  Nouyohtl,  that  the  step  is  a  fool- 
ish one  now;  it  is  not  time  to  attempt  an  overthrow  of 
the  Chichimecas,  unless  we  can  plan  and  act  together 
with  the  well-trained  Tetlilicuans  and  the  Culhuacas.  If 
the  latter  nation  unaided  by  other  powers  should  win  a 
battle  or  two  in  the  outset  it  will  only  jeopardize  their 
future  interests  forever.  I  learned  that  the  Chichimeca 
army  alone  started  for  Culhuacan,  and  if  they  suffer  a 
defeat  they  can  summon  the  Xochimilcas  and  the  Tez- 
cocans  to  assist  them,  and  with  those  two  nations  they 
will  be  in  a  position  to  annihilate  the  Culhuacas  root  and 
branch;  then  where  will  our  hope  of  conquest  be?  I 
consider  that  the  step  he  has  taken  is  rash  folly,  I  might 
almost  add,  treasonable!  If  he  could  only  have  curbed 
his  ambition  until  we  could  have  formed  an  alliance,  as 
we  planned  to  do  with  the  friendly  disposed  nations  we 
could  easily  overthrow  the  Chichimeca  power.  I  had  the 
solemn  promise  of  the  Xochimilca  king  to  join  with  us 
to  conquer  their  tyrannical  rulers;  their  recent  acts  of 
courtesy  toward  them  will  never  obliterate  that  deadly 
hatred  engendered  by  the  brutal  sacrifice  of  the  Xochi- 
milca princess  at  the  hands  of  the  great  high  priest  of  the 
Chichimecas." 

"Your  ideas  are  quite  correct  upon  that  important  sub- 
ject, Topiltzin,  and  coincide  with  mine  entirely,  and  I 
trust  that  the  head  strong  prince  or  King  Aztec  himself 
will  see  the  absurdity  of  such  a  course  before  a  conflict 
takes  place." 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  277 

"I  do  know  that  the  ambassadors  sent  by  King  Teno- 
chititlan  were  held  as  hostage  for  the  safety  of  the  Cul- 
huacan  representative,  and  they  kept  the  war-god  Huit- 
zilopochtli,  which  you  know  meant  a  direct  declaration  of 
war.  King  Icoatzin  said  that  word  was  sent  to  him  that 
a  conflict  had  taken  place  and  that  Meconetzin  led  the 
army  of  Culhuacan,  and  that  they  scored  a  splendid  vic- 
tory, but  that  the  prince  was  mortally  wounded  in  the 
engagement,  and  his  death  was  momentarily  expected; 
of  the  latter  assertion  I  have  my  doubts,  as  the  prince  I 
seems  to  lead  a  charmed  existence,  but  they  are  in  earnest 
regarding  the  meditated  siege  of  war,  for  the  aged  men, 
women  and  children  of  the  Culhuacas  are  now  at  Tetlili- 
cuan,  whither  they  were  sent  two  moons  ago  or  more,  and 
thus  you  see  they  are  not  making  idle  talk." 

"Ye  gods,  Topiltzin,  this  news  is  distracting  to  me! 
Can  it  be  possible  that  such  is  the  case  ?  I  am  disgusted 
with  such  precipitant  measures,  and  without  so  much  as 
a  word  to  me." 

"Nouyohtl,  I  am  sure  that  Meconetzin  would  never 
enter  into  any  such  conspiracy  independent  of  you ;  he  is 
incapable  of  any  such  intrigue ;  there  is  some  grave  mis- 
take; this  affair  may  turn  out  to  be  as  farce-like  as  the 
report  of  his  having  been  sacrificed  to  the  sun-god.  He 
does  lead  a  charmed  existence  by  a  special  dispensation ; 
I  believe  that  he  is  a  chosen  one  of  Quetzalcohuatl,  our 
Toltec  Savior,  who  endows  him  with  more  superior  ele- 
ments than  we  can  understand,  the  same  as  he  has  given 
to  the  present  King  Zamna  of  the  Yucas,  to  whom  we 
willingly  acknowledge  allegiance  in  tributes,  laws  and 
honor.  I  will  not  believe  that  Meconetzin  has  ever  com- 
mitted one  disloyal  act  to  disgrace  himself  or  his  nation; 
it  were  impossible  for  him  to  demean  himself  in  any  man- 
ner; he  is  not  grasping,  vain-glorious  or  designing — he 


2/3  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

is  the  soul  of  honor!  You  know  that  to  be  a  fact, 
Nouyohtl  ?" 

"I  have  no  idea  what  delusions  entered  his  mind  when 
he  arrived  at  his  native  place,  but  I  consider  it  very  un- 
gallant  of  him  to  desert  our  child  and  hasten  on  in  the 
same  direction  which  she  must  pass  in  order  to  escape 
from  the  enemy's  country,  while  he  attempts  to  raise  a 
revolt !  I  do  not  call  that  loyalty,  bravery  or  honor !" 

"But  Topiltzin  led  us  to  believe  that  he  knew  nothing 
whatever  about  the  prince  when  he  first  arrived,  to " 

"Queen  Xinhtlatzin,  please  allow  me  to  reiterate  what 
I  have  already  mentioned;  that  the  statement  which  I 
made  concerning  Meconetzin  is  not  of  my  own  personal 
knowledge,  but  a  rumor  related  to  me  at  Tetlilicuan  by 
the  estimable  ruler  of  that  nation.  If  you  so  desire,  I 
will  summon  the  most  reliable  of  my  men  to  corroborate 
these  things — remember  that  they  were  at  the  kingdom  of 
Tetlilicuan  during  my  entire  captivity.  I  have  not  ques- 
tioned them,  but  did  hear  them  remarking  about  the  rash- 
ness of  the  prince,  but  not  wishing  to  further  excite  their 
enmity  against  him  I  refrained  from  joining  the  convers- 
ation, or  thus  exhibiting  the  least  interest  or  concern  in 
the  affair  or  their  disparaging  remarks,  but  you,  King 
Nouhyotl,  cannot  have  been  blind  to  the  fact  that  he  has 
tried  to  exercise  more  influence  here  than  any  other  per- 
son in  this  kingdom,  and  I  believe  that  he  considered  him- 
self the  lawful  king  by  right  of  inheritance,  and  I  gath- 
ered as  much  from  certain  theories  which  he  at  various 
times  advanced.  The  Chichimecas  firmly  believe  that  he 
is  ruled  by  a  host  of  evil  spirits,  or  he  never  could  have 
abstained  from  food  for  the  length  of  time  which  he  did, 
nor  managed  to  escape  the  sacrifice  to  the  sun-god  and 
then  dared  to  venture  back  again  to  rescue  the  princess/' 

"No  evil  spirit  aided  him  to  rescue  our  child!    How 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

dare  you  in  our  presence  insinuate  such  a  thing  whether 
advanced  by  the  Chichimecas  or  not?  You  are  quite 
overstepping  the  bounds  of  consistency.  If  his  truly  dip- 
lomatic power  aided  the  abused  Culhuacas  to  revolt,  they 
certainly  had  a  good  and  just  cause  for  so  doing;  and  he 
is  just  the  noble  hero  to  have  led  them  on  to  victory !  If 
he  could  see  you,  Topiltzin,  bearing  in  your  arms  our 
child,  whom  he  loves  better  than  his  life ;  knowing  as  we 
all  do  that  you  are  his  rival  in  her  affections,  and  still 
march  on  to  lead  a  nation  to  victory,  then  he  is  the  hero 
of  all  heroes,  for  he  allowed  no  selfish,  personal  motives 
to  stand  between  himself  and  the  people  whom  he  had 
promised  to  aid  in  freeing  themselves  from  a  brutal  mon- 
arch. He  knew  that  our  child  was  safe  in  the  care  and 
protection  of  her  father's  men.  Let  us  no  longer  listen  ta 
rumor  Noyohtl,  we  will  go  and  learn  if  that  noble  in- 
fluence which  the  prince  possesses  may  not  be  capable  of 
planning  a  bridge  upon  which  we  poor  Toltecs  may  cross 
to  victory  too." 

"Then,  am  I  to  understand  that  you  wish  him  to  rule 
our  people  instead  of  me?  Or  is  this  henceforth  to  be  a 
gynarchy  ?" 

"You  two  have  in  your  recent  conversation  caused  me 
to  remember  that  Prince  Meconetzin  is  entitled  to  rule." 

"I  am  truly  amazed,  Xinhtlatzin,  that  such  rash  and 
unreasonable  measures  meet  your  willing  approbation,, 
and  were  they  to  be  countenanced  by  me,  we  would  all 
soon  be  doing  duty  to  the  Chichimecas,  as  those  poor 
slaves  have  done  since  the  fall  of  Tollantzingo.  I  see 
nothing  but  future  trouble  in  such  hot-headed  valor,  and 
I  certainly  approve  of  the  cautious  measures  taken  by 
General  Topiltzin.  If  he  had  committed  any  offense  to- 
ward that  brutal  nation  they  would  have  sacrificed  him 
the  moment  he  was  captured.  Just  call  to  mind  the  prob- 


28O  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

able,  yes,  I  am  safe  to  say  the  positive  reason  that  the 
band  of  Chichimecas  came  so  near  our  city;  were  they 
not  in  search  of  Meconetzin?  That  was  why  our  child 
was  stolen.  Can  you  be  blind  to  that  fact  ?" 

"Yes,  Nouyohtl,  I  am  blind  to  that  fact,  and  not  wil- 
fully so,  but  because  you  are  laboring  under  a  mistaken 
-delusion.  It  is  false;  false  as  that  creature  to  whom  you 
so  willingly  listen  and  shield.  No,  you  shall  not 
leave  this  room,  Topiltzin,  until  I  have  proved  at  least 
one  serious  charge  against  you.  When  Ezcolotl  heard 
that  you  had  been  taken  a  prisoner  and  feared  that  you 
would  at  once  be  slain,  she  declared  in  her  wild  ravings 
that  you  brought  a  Chichimeca  girl  here  to  our  kingdom, 
and  that  you  took  her  back  with  you  upon  your  recent 
expedition,  and  upon  that  fact  was  based  all  of  her  fears ; 
is  this  not  true?" 

"No  madam,  only  in  part ;  that  beast  followed  us.  She 
was  the  proxy  wife  of  one  of  my  guards,  who  was  slain 
while  defending  the  princess." 

"Then  your  mother  does  not  tell  the  truth,  Topiltzin?" 

"If  she  made  that  assertion  while  raving  and  delirious, 
would  you  hold  her  responsible  for  the  veracity  of  the 
statement  ?" 

The  queen  turned  in  disgust  from  the  voluble  culprit, 
and  deigned  no  reply,  but  the  king  in  stern  measured 
tones  burdened  with  a  menace,  exclaimed : 

"Topiltzin,  did  you  permit  any  spy  of  a  Chichimeca 
woman  to  enter  our  domain  protected  by  my  army  ?" 

"King  Nouyohtl,  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  I  did;  the 
unfortunate  guard  to  whom  I  referred,  was  a  brave  hand- 
some fellow,  and  when  I  endeavored  to  learn  the  exact 
whereabouts  of  the  key,  he  aided  me  greatly  by  showing 
this  girl  marked  attention.  Her  brother  was  a  king's 
guard,  and  in  this  manner  he  preyed  upon  her  suscepta- 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  2  8  ! 

bilities  and  married  her  according  to  their  rights,  and 
then  through  her  influence  the  key  was  forthcoming,  and 
I  became  possessed  of  the  same." 

"And  that  was  your  crowning  act  of  diplomacy!'' 
There  was  ringing  scorn  and  indignation  in  the  queen's 
utterances,  and  he  hastened  to  add : 

"When  we  were  several  days  out  on  our  homeward 
journey  I  learned  that  she  had  followed  us,  although  I 
gave  strict  orders  to  the  man  to  leave  her  there,  and  not 
to  let  her  know  when  we  intended  to  make  the  homeward 
journey." 

"Then,  Topiltzin,  I  think  your  statement  is  convincing 
proof  that  you  do  not  deserve  the  magnitude  of  diploma- 
cy (?)  with  which  you  have  been  accredited,  since  your 
guard  managed  all  of  the  details,  and  then  fell  a  victim 
to  the  snare." 

"Queen  Xinhtlatzin,  it  was  myself  who  instigated  the 
plan." 

"Enough  sir,  that  acknowledgement  is  all  that  I  desired 
to  know ;  you  instigated  the  plan ;  you  saw  it  carried  into 
effect,  and  you  allowed  that  girl  to  come  here  in  the  same 
house  with  your  mother ;  you  and  you  alone  are  to  blame 
for  a  treacherous  act  toward  a  race  who  are  only  your 
equal  in  cruelty,  as  you  have  through  this  breach  between 
nations  made  me  keenly  feel.  Your  vanity  would  convict 
you  in  time  I  very  well  knew,  and  if  your  king  is  still 
blind  to  your  deceitful  and  intriguing  nature  he  is  wilfully 
so." 

"Topiltzin,  I  am  indeed  amazed  at  these  disclosures, 
this  act  is  one  which  I  cannot  calmly  overlook;  it  is  ut- 
terly unworthy  of  the  principles  of  a  loyal  Toltec,  and  ex- 
hibits a  depth  of  depravity  in  your  nature  which  I  never 
thought  existed  there,  and  if  the  guard  referred  to  were 
alive  I  would  compel  him  to  return  with  that  woman  to 


282  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

Tenochititlan  and  live  with  her  there  and  endure  what- 
ever penalty  the  Chichimecas  saw  fit  to  inflict;  he  would 
be  exiled  forever  from  my  domain !" 

For  a  moment  the  dismayed  culprit's  volubility  failed 
him  as  an  avalanche  of  fear  overcame  him,  and  he  trembl- 
ed at  the  thought  that  the  king  might  be  able  to  wrest 
the  true  version  of  the  affair  from  some  of  his  men,  but  he 
finally  summoned  audacity  to  say : 

"King  Nouyohtl,  when  you  made  known  your  desire 
to  possess  that  key  you  made  no  stipulation  or  restrictions 
in  regard  to  the  manner  in  which  we  should  proceed  to 
obtain  it.  I  succeeded  in  procuring  it  as  my  ingenuity 
dictated,  and  the  thought  never  occurred  to  me  that  any 
measure  which  I  might  take  against  those  savages  would 
be  objectionable  to  you  or  could  possibly  be  construed  as 
a  breach  betiveen  nations.  I  know  that  the  man  grew  to 
love  that  woman,  and  I  considered  it  my  duty — after  his 
death — to  provide  her  with  a  home  until  I  could  restore 
her  to  her  people,  which  I  have  done.  I  would  gladly  have 
explained  all  of  this  to  you  before  but  it  never  occurred 
to  me  that  the  affair  was  of  sufficient  importance  to  in- 
terest you  in  the  least." 

"We  will  drop  the  unpleasant  subject  for  the  present, 
Argument  were  powerless  to  change  it  now.  As  soon  as 
this  terrible  storm  subsides,  which  has  come  up  so  sudden- 
ly, and  with  such  extreme  violence,  we  will  make  arrange- 
ments to  start  upon  our  journey  to  Tetlilcuan,  and  you 
Topiltzin  will,  I  trust,  be  more  circumspect  in  the  future 
to  uphold  the  honor  of  our  people,  although  we  are  a 
conquered  nation." 

He  seemed  glad  to  be  dismissed  from  the  presence  of 
the  royal  couple,  and  when  he  had  taken  his  departure  the 
king  addressed  the  queen  thus : 

"I  am  really  quite  disappointed  in  the  principles  of  that 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  283 

man ;  he  has  never  appeared  before  me  in  such  a  deroga- 
tory light  as  this." 

"I  need  not  tell  you  that  I  am  not  disappointed  in  him,, 
and  I  should  not  be  at  all  surprised  if  it  was  himself  who 
made  love  to  that  girl  instead  of  a  conveniently  dead 
guardsman." 

"Oh  banish  that  thought  my  dear,  were  it  not  that  I 
have  no  desire,  under  the  present  circumstances,  to  excite 
his  direct  enmity,  I  would  compel  some  of  his  men  to  sub- 
stantiate his  assertions  or  make  a  clean  breast  of  it  other- 
wise, but  we  cannot  now  change  the  pernicious  results 
which  have  accrued  from  the  treacherous  transactions.  Ye 
gods,  Xinhtlatzin,  this  is  the  most  threatening  storm  I 
have  even  seen." 

At  that  precise  moment  a  terrible  convulsion  of  nature 
took  place,  followed  by  another  and  still  another,  with- 
that  dull,  deep  warning  sound  indicative  of  the  earth- 
quake's terrible  roar.  The  palace  tottered,  and  scream- 
ing servants  fled  to  the  streets  in  dismay ;  it  seemed  as  if 
every  building  would  collapse,  and  the  king  attempted  to- 
cross  the  courtyard  just  as  one  of  the  swaying  walls 
caved  in  injuring  him  severely,  and  the  physician  who  ex- 
amined him  pronounced  the  wound  to  be  a  very  danger- 
ous one,  it  having  crushed  in  a  portion  of  the  skull,  which 
it  was  necessary  to  remove,  and  he  skilfully  substituted 
a  gold  plate  therein;  the  injured  king  meanwhile  was  un- 
conscious of  the  delicate  operation  performed  by  the  court 
physicians,  for  they  mercifully  administered  an  opiate 
taken  from  the  kernel  of  a  wholesome  fruit  growing 
abundantly  in  the  Tollan  kingdom.  Under  their  skillful 
care  the  king  soon  became  convalescent,  and  the  queen, 
who  fortunately  escaped  uninjured,  remained  steadfastly 
beside  him  until  the  crisis  had  passed. 


284  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

SOMETHING  in  the  awful  grandeur  of  that  threatening 
demonstration  of  nature  was  welcome  to  scheming 
Topiltzin;  he  reveled  in  the  outburst  of  divine  authority 
that  had  power  to  humble  the  haughty  queen  with  abject 
fear. 

Confusion  and  ruin  was  visible  in  all  directions,  and 
not  one  building  in  the  new  Tollan  escaped  without  more 
or  less  injury;  it  was  evident  also  that  many  days  must 
elapse  before  the  king  would  be  able  to  start  on  a  journey, 
a  fact  which  greatly  pleased  the  conspirator,  and  he  set 
the  machinery  of  his  evil  genius  into  activity,  and  evolved 
a  plan  to  undermine  the  whole  Toltec  kingdom. 

He  was  in  his  coveted  element  as  administrator  during 
the  severe  illness  of  the  king,  although  he  openly  advo- 
cated the  false  assertion  that  he  simply  obeyed  the  queen's 
commands. 

He  immediately  despatched  a  runner  to  Tetlilicuan  with 
instructions  to  King  Icoatzin  to  kindly  forward  the 
princess  with  a  suitable  escort  without  delay  if  she  would 
see  her  father  again  alive.  Following  this  announcement 
was  an  exaggerated  statement  regarding  the  amount  of 
damage  done  by  the  terrible  storm. 

He  then  called  a  council  to  which  he  summoned  all  of 
the  able-bodied  men  to  whose  opinions  he  apparently  paid 
great  deference  while  charging  them  to  serious- 
ly consider  the  danger  of  their  unprotected  condition. 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  28$. 

What  would  the  consequence  be  if  marauding  bands  learn- 
ed of  their  desperate  and  unprotected  condition?  The 
protecting  walls  were  leveled  in  many  places,  their  stores 
of  supplies  were  under  a  mass  of  ruins,  and  their  fruit 
trees  were  made  barren  of  their  ripening  treasures,  and 
uprooted;  their  reserved  weapons  were  also  buried,  and 
what  possible  chance  remained  for  aught  but  total  annihi- 
lation? Where  was  their  once  boasted  strength?  He 
flattered  them,  while  apparently  giving  serious  weight  to 
their  suggestions,  but  meanwhile  he  adroitly  guided  the 
current  of  their  minds  into  the  desired  channel,  drawing 
them  into  making  the  very  suggestions  which,  had  he  is- 
sued as  commands,  would  have  caused  them  to  revolt  and 
denounce  him  as  a  traitor. 

He  cunningly  forced  their  minds  over  every  scruple 
until  they  were  unanimous  in  declaring  that  their  only 
safety  and  future  welfare  lay  in  flight. 

When  these  fatal  words  had  been  framed,  and  the  utter- 
ance given  he  feigned  many  protestations,  assenting  final- 
ly with  the  greatest  apparent  reluctance,  and  not  until  he 
had  exhausted  every  assailable  and  vulnerable  point,  and 
with  secret  joy  saw  them  crumble  away  before  the  eager 
argument  of  their  combative  natures  while  parading  their 
depth  of  wisdom  and  forethought.  He  then  broached  the 
following  subject — Should  they  inform  the  dangerously 
wounded  and  excitable  king,  thereby,  in  all  probability, 
bringing  about  his  speedy  dissolution?  No,  no,  the  bare 
suggestion  was  immediately  cried  down  by  the  excited 
multitude. 

Should  they  inform  the  queen,  who  might,  in  some  un- 
guarded moment,  or  perhaps  would  consider  it  her  duty 
to  reveal  those  facts  to  the  king,  and  in  his  precarious 
condition  would  thus  bring  about  the  dreadful  catastrophe 
which  they  must  strive  in  every  way  to  avert. 


286  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

No,  no,  no,  rang  out  from  the  lips  of  every  assembled 
subject,  and  they  vociferously  reminded  him  that  he  was 
now  in  command  by  acclamation  as  well  as  by  appoint- 
ment from  those  in  power,  and  declared  that  their  united 
wishes  were  to  proceed  with  all  possible  dispatch  to  ac- 
complish their  aim  under  his  discreet  and  judicious  man- 
agement. 

He  then  meekly  acknowledged  his  depth  of  gratitude 
to  them  for  their  confidence  in  his  skill  and  leadership, 
assuring  them  that  no  step  would  be  taken,  or  task  im- 
posed upon  them  without  first  having  gained  the  consent 
and  approval  of  the  worthy  and  appreciative  subjects. 
This  modest  assertion  called  forth  volumes  of  applause, 
and  when  it  died  away  he  said :  "While  we  are  ostensibly 
preparing  to  rebuild  the  st®re-houses  by  removing  the 
debris,  we  will  only  transfer  what  supplies  may  be  saved 
from  the  ruins  to  a  well-guarded  receptacle  in  the  suburbs 
of  the  city,  and  then  arrange  to  remove  it  on  our  way 
just  as  fast  as  practicable,  for  we  do  not  know  at  what 
hour  some  thieving  band  may  learn  of  our  deplorable 
condition  and  attempt  to  overpower  us." 

Every  person  coincided  with  his  views  and  pronounced 
his  plans  admirable,  and  they  at  once  set  about  to  carry 
them  into  execution,  and  a  marked  spirit  of  activity  was 
apparent,  and  also  a  respectful  deference  more  manifest 
than  ever  was  displayed  in  every  action  toward  Topiltzin 
as  he  quietly  and  unassumingly  instructed  them  how  to 
proceed. 

The  persevering  efforts  and  humble  aspect  of  the 
schemer  were  not  lost  upon  the  observing  queen  who  ex- 
ulted in  the  thought  that  the  few  well-chosen  words  of  the 
king  had  taken  root  in  the  bosom  of  Topiltzin  and  were 
already  bearing  fruit,  and  she  rejoiced  in  the  thought  that 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

there  was  yet  in  his  organization  a  latent  element  of  Tol- 
tec  honor. 

When  the  council  met  again  it  was  to  arrange  for  an 
immediate  departure  at  the  hour  of  the  arrival  of  the 
princess.  The  unwelcome  report  came  from  a  trustworthy 
scout  that  a  large  band  of  hostile  Indians  had  encamped 
a  number  of  leagues  distant  with  the  evident  intention  of 
making  a  raid  upon  them  at  the  most  favorable  oppor- 
tunity which  might  present  itself,  a  menace  which  made  a 
solid  foundation  for  all  of  the  prophesies  ventured  by  the 
schemer,  and  thus  their  energies  were  aroused  to  still 
greater  activity,  and  the  preparations  were  pushed  for- 
ward rapidly. 

Three  substantial  separate  conveyances  were  made,  and 
relays  of  strong,  fleet  carriers  were  chosen,  and  the  path 
marked  out  for  them  to  pursue,  which  would  finally  lead 
them  to  the  far  south  to  a  new  country,  which  they  had 
named  Tahuautinsuyu,  which  was  the  rich  province  be- 
longing to  one  of  the  princely  decendents  appointed  by 
the  immortal  Votan.  Their  first  empire  had  been  founded 
at  Maaya  under  the  leadership  of  Prince  Zamna,  and  had 
remained  there  for  many  centuries,  and  their  beautiful 
cities  of  Palenque,  Iztmal,  Tulha,  Tsequil,  and  others 
were  deserted  after  a  terrible  drouth  was  visited  upon 
them,  which  continued  for  many  seasons. 

They  were  ruled  at  that  memorable  period  by  a  wise 
king  named  Yuca,  who  led  them  to  the  rich  province  of 
Tahuautinsuyu,  and  there  they  prospered  beyond  their 
fondest  hopes.  At  Maaya,  the  first  golden  garden  to  the 
sun-god  had  been  made  which  was  transformed  to  their 
new  home,  and  Votan  had,  during  his  illustrious  reign, 
suggested  the  practicability  of  each  kingdom  paying  trib- 
ute to  the  followers  of  Prince  Zamna  in  order  to  thus  pro- 
vide valuable  gifts  for  the  messenger  from  the  sun  when 


288  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

his  arrival  should  take  place.  This  unwritten  law  was 
always  observed,  and  the  Yucas  became  the  most  wealthy 
of  Toltec  nations. 

It  was  to  the  shelter  and  protection  of  those  powerful 
descendants  and  distant  allies,  that  Huemac  had  advised 
the  band  of  Toltec  refugees  to  flee  for  protection  when 
they  escaped  from  Tollantzingo  and  started  upon  their 
pilgrimage ;  but  the  goal  was  so  far  distant  and  through 
such  a  tangled  wilderness,  that  after  the  appointment  of 
Nouyohtl  as  king  he  announced  his  intention  of  locating 
near  enough  to  the  province  of  Tetlilicuan  and  Huehuetla- 
pallan,  which  was  founded  by  Prince  Cukulcan  appointed 
by  Votan,  but  which  had  not  prospered  as  vigorously 
under  his  management  as  the  other  empires  had  done  and 
had  gradually  been  reduced  by  conquering  invaders 
until  it  occupied  less  than  half  of  its  original  territory, 
that  they  would  be  enabled  to  hold  communication  with 
the  aged  and  infirm  Toltecs,  who  were  left  in  the  gracious 
care  of  generous  Icoatzin. 

The  bearers  of  the  annual  tributes  to  the  Yucas — who 
always  retained  as  a  nation  the  name  of  the  progressive 
king  who  had  led  the  way  to  the  land  of  plenty — always 
returned  enthusiastic  of  that  beautiful  country,  which 
greatly  interested  Topiltzin,  and  produced  a  growing  de- 
sire in  his  bosom  to  travel  the  long  intervening  distance 
and  behold  for  himself  the  chosen  and  adopted  country  of 
a  race  whose  source  sprang  from  the  same  nation,  relig- 
ious custom  and  secret  brotherhood  as  his  own.  Now  the 
opportunity  was  at  hand,  and  he  decided  to  take  the  ad- 
vantage of  it  without  delay. 

Scourged  by  the  demon  of  his  memory,  Topiltzin 
hastened  from  one  duty  to  another,  aiding  and  abetting, 
cheering  and  encouraging  with  words  and  deeds,  while 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  289 

every  second  was  measured  with  a  fatal  accuracy  which 
stood  between  himself  and  the  object  of  his  love. 

Twenty  leagues  to  the  southward  in  the  direct  path  of 
the  proposed  journey  they  had  discovered  a  suitable  place 
among  the  cliffs  for  the  purpose  of  storing  their  supplies, 
and  as  the  final  day  drew  near,  he  suggested  to  them  the 
advisability  of  removing  their  stores  to  that  rendezvous, 
where  they  should  be  guarded  by  a  sufficient  number  of 
persons,  in  order  to  avoid  a  moment's  delay  at  the  ap- 
pointed time  to  march  onward. 

Meanwhile  the  king  was  counting  the  hours  whicH 
must  elapse  until  he  gained  sufficient  strength  to  start 
upon  his  proposed  journey  to  Tetlilicuan  for  the  purpose 
of  bringing  home  his  child. 

The  queen  daily  amused  him  with  glowing  accounts  of 
the  humbled,  obedient  and  industrious  Topiltzin,  who 
was  thus  ingratiating  himself  in  their  esteem  by  the 
course  which  he  apparently  pursued,  and  which  seemed 
exemplary  to  their  unsuspecting  minds ;  the  king  became 
more  enthusiastic  at  each  recital,  and  his  wonted  strength 
hourly  increased. 

When  the  queen  received  the  assurance  of  the  physician 
that  the  king  would  recover  after  a  prolonged  illness, 
she  had  instructed  Topiltzin  to  that  effect;  she  had  re- 
marked that  it  were  better  not  to  send  any  rumor  of  the 
state  of  affairs  to  Tetlilcuan  for  the  present,  but  when  the 
alarm  of  the  near  approach  of  the  marauding  savages, 
had  been  revealed  to  the  king,  he  commanded  him 
to  send  without  delay  to  King  Icoatzin  for  succor. 


2QO  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

EACH  night  a  long  line  of  shadowy  forms  crept  cauti- 
ously outside  of  the  crumbling  city  walls  laden  with  as 
heavy  burdens  as  they  could  carry,  until  all  of  the  avail- 
able stores  were  removed  beyond  the  reach  of  the  con- 
valescent king,  should  he  chance  to  discover  the  plot  and 
object  to  the  bold  course  mapped  out  for  him  to  pursue. 

At  the  very  close  of  a  long  sultry  day,  when  the  wel- 
come breeze  of  evening  swept  the  gathering  shades  to- 
gether and  draped  the  beautiful,  though  devastated,  vale 
of  the  new  Tollan  in  their  silent  folds,  the  joyous  an- 
nouncement was  made  that  the  army  of  King  Icoatzin 
was  fast  approaching. 

Topiltzin  then  commanded  each  person,  except  the 
gate-guards  and  carriers  to  fall  into  line  outside  of  the 
south  gate  in  order  to  be  ready  to  rush  forward  the  in- 
stant that  he  gave  the  signal,  for  the  report  had  come 
that  the  Indians  were  making  preparations  to  advance. 

Ezcolotl  in  order  to  ingratiate  herself  in  the  good-will 
of  her  son,  who  had  denounced  her  in  unmeasured  terms 
for  the  disclosures  she  had  made  regarding  Sekehtl, 
which  had  proved  so  detrimental  to  him,  imparted  a  secret 
which  she  had  kept  since  his  birth,  and  one  which  elevated 
her  greatly  in  his  estimation  and  gave  himself  added 
dignity  and  importance  until  he  had  difficulty  in  acting 
the  humble  part  which  he  had  assigned  to  himself  in  order 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  29! 

to  appear  more  like  the  follower  of  his  ignominious  plans 
than  the  leader  of  them. 

At  last  the  announcement  was  made  that  the  caravan 
was  at  the  gates,  and  at  that  moment  Ezcolotl  and  Topilt- 
zin  sought  admission  to  the  rooms  of  the  royal  pair  to  in- 
form them  of  the  good  news,  but  at  that  precise  moment 
the  princess  appeared  upon  the  opposite  threshold,  fol- 
lowed by  King  Icoatzin  and  Prince  Meconetzin,  Son  of 
Maguey. 

Topiltzin  stood  like  one  upon  whom  the  sentence  of 
death  had  been  pronounced,  his  lips  parted,  his  nostrils 
dilated  and  his  blazing  eyes  glaring;  but  just  one  word 
fell  from  the  stern  lips  of  Meconetzin  as  he  advanced  to- 
ward the  culprit : 

"Traitor!" 

Ezcolotl  then  rallied  the  full  force  of  her  vindictive 
nature,  and  in  triumphant  tones  exclaimed: 

"Meconetzin,  he  whom  you  denounce  as  traitor,  has  the 
same  royal  blood  coursing  through  his  veins  of  which 
you  are  so  boastful — He  is  the  second  son  of  King  Tec- 
pancaltzin!" 

As  she  uttered  these  words,  she  seized  the  dazed 
Topiltzin  by  his  arm  and  hurried  him  away  as  she  whisp- 
ered the  magical  words  in  his  ear: 

"Come,  rule  your  people!" 

And  they  hastened  from  the  presence  of  the  reunited 
family  before  they  recovered  from  the  surprise  occasion- 
ed by  her  revelation. 

When  they  reached  the  south  gate  he  gave  the  signal 
and  shouted : 

"Onward  !  March !  The  indians  are  upon  us !  They 
have  slain  the  king  and  queen,  and  the  carriers  and 
gate-guards  have  been  taken  prisoners ! !" 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

The  command  was  promptly  obeyed,  and  they  wound 
their  way  like  serpents  out  of  the  city  and  kingdom  of 
the  new  Tollan  forever.  *  *  * 

When  the  first  glad  moments  of  -greeting  were  over, 
and  the  queen  attempted  to  summon  a  servant,  one  of  the 
carriers  appeared  and  innocently  inquired  if  he  should 
place  the  king  first  upon  the  conveyance?  Then  she  be- 
came aware  of  the  prodigious  plot  which  had  been  carried 
to  such  a  successful  issue,  that  not  one  subject  remained 
to  King  Nouyohtl  but  Xolotli,  the  carriers  and  gate- 
guards. 

When  King  Icoatzin  became  aware  of  the  astounding 
facts,  and  also  that  the  Indians  were  preparing  an  im- 
mediate attack,  he  persuaded  the  king,  queen,  prince  and 
princess  to  return  with  him  to  Tetlilicuan  with  the  rem- 
nant of  his  race,  as  he  did  not  consider  it  expedient  for 
him  to  remain  and  contest  a  siege. 

They  accepted  the  kind  invitation,  and  soon  the  dearest 
wish  in  the  hearts  of  Prince  Meconetzin  and  Princess 
Centeotl  was  fulfilled  magnificently  at  the  palace  at  Tetli- 
licuan. 

At  dawn  of  day  when  the  savages  came  to  make  the 
attack  upon  the  city,  with  a  resounding  war-whoop,  which 
was  echoed  far  and  wide,  they  were  astonished  to  hear  no 
defiant  cry.  They  charged  upon  the  ponderous  gates, 
which  to  their  amazement  yielded  unresistingly  to  their 
eager  grasp,  but  the  death-like  stillness  which  reigned 
within  alarmed  them  and  they  fled  in  terror,  without 
searching  the  city,  fearful  that  it  was  presided  over  by 
evil  spirits  which  destroyed  the  whole  Toltec  nation,  or 
changed  them  into  invisible  beings  which  were  a  menace 
to  them. 

No  other  tribe  or  nation  was  brave  enough  to  take  up 


THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR.  293 

their  abode  in  that  city  of  mysteries,  or  attempt  to  investi- 
gate the  cause  of  its  eternal  silence. 

The  terrible  earthquake  created  great  havoc  at  Tetlili- 
cuan,  which  king  Icoatzin  declared  was  the  most  severe 
ever  experienced  since  the  advent  of  the  Toltecs  upon  the 
continent. 

It  destroyed  ancient  landmarks  which  had  withstood 
the  vibrations  of  many  centuries  of  earthquakes,  and 
serious  upheavals  of  Popocatapetl,  Iztaccihuatl  and 
Ciltaltepetl,  which  had  at  various  periods  lifted  up  their 
belching,  menacing  exertions,  and  it  would  necessitate 
the  continued  labor  of  many  years  to  restore  these  wrecks 
to  their  former  imposing  grandeur. 

A  runner  from  the  province  of  Tenochititlan  announced 
the  alarming  fact  that  the  beautiful  vale  of  Tollantzingo 
was  almost  a  ruin  from  the  effect  of  the  terrific  upheaval, 
and  suffered  such  damage  that  it  would  require  the  in- 
cessant labor  of  a  king's  reign  to  repair  it. 

Meconetzin  imparted  the  secret  of  the  scroll  contained 
in  the  unique  key  to  the  parents  of  his  bride,  also  to  King 
Icoatzin,  and  they  learned  with  dismay  that  the  promon- 
tory upon  which  the  prophet's  cavern  had  stood,  where 
noble  Hueman  had  deified  the  Toltec  Savior  and  read  the 
language  of  the  stars  and  watched  the  glowing  gate  to 
sunland  as  it  rose  and  set  behind  the  grand  old  mountains, 
had  been  leveled  to  the  ground,  and  the  whole  appearance 
of  that  portion  of  the  country  was  completely  changed. 

These  facts  dashed  to  atoms  many  brilliant  plans  which 
had  been  fostered  in  the  fertile  brain  of  Meconetzin  to 
gain  possession  of  his  lawful  inheritance,  which  was 
the  mammoth  treasure  accumulated  by  the  thrifty  Tol- 
tecs for  hundreds  of  centuries  awaiting  the  commands 
and  fulfillment  of  the  prophesy  of  the  coming  of  the  rrvess- 


294  THE  TOLTEC  SAVIOR. 

enger  from  Sunland.  But  he  was  gratified  to  learn  that 
Palpan  heights  still  existed,  and  by  that  land-mark  he 
hoped  to  trace  the  exact  whereabouts  of  the  former  lo- 
cation of  the  marble  treasure-house  when  an  alliance  could 
be  formed  to  overthrow  the  power  of  the  Chichimecas. 


THE  END. 


APPENDIX. 


1  Ambistl — God  who  destroys  the  heart  if  it  weights 
too  little. 

2  Amentl — Father  of  the  Gods. 

3  Atechpanomochocho — Name  of  lake. 

4  Azcapozalco — Name  of  Province. 

5  Acjojatl — Brown  cane. 

6  Ajacacaxtli — Ponderous  rattle. 

7  Areyto — Cyrcling  dance. 

8  Apiztcotl — God  of  hunger. 

9  Aztec — King  of  Culhuacas. 

10  Atzcapotzalco — Name  of  Province. 

11  Cukulcan — Prince  who  reigned  under  Votan. 

12  Ciltlaltepetl — The  Toltec  name  of  mountain  (Oriz- 
aba) signifying  the  witness. 

13  Cuaxicalli-Tizoc — Sacrificial  stone. 

14  Chichimeca — Cruel  nation  who  succeeded  the  Tol- 
tecs. 

15  Cucuyous — Mammoth  fire  flies. 

1 6  Cauhtli — Brother  of  King  Tecpantcaltzin. 

17  Cuycapicque — Singers  of  the  Temple. 

1 8  Culhuacan — Name  of  kingdom  and  nation, 

19  Coatlyapan — Name  of  Province. 

20  Chalchihuitl — Precious  gem. 

21  Chapultepec — Palace  of  Kings. 

[2951 


APPENDIX. 

22  Centeotl — Toltec  Princess. 

23  Carcanet — A  small  crown. 

24  Cazonci — Chichimeca  King. 

25  Chalchuihtlanctzin — Name  of  King  and  Kingdom. 

26  Cacao — Chocolate. 

27  Ezcolotl — Toltec  maiden. 

28  Ezapan — Tank  of  water. 

29  Hueman — Toltec  Prophet. 

30  Hopitl — God  of  the  water. 

31  Huitzilopochtli — God  tA  war. 

32  Huehue-Tlapallan — Name  of  Province. 

33  Hatsutl — Toltec  woman. 

34  Huehuecauauhtillin — Name  of  Province. 

35  Huemac— Toltec  Priest. 

36  Huehuetl — Musical  instrument. 

37  Huepilli — Garment  for  women. 

38  Ixtaccihuatl — Volcanic  mountain  (of  Mexico)   wife 
of  the  one  which  furnished  the  sacrificial  blade. 

39  Icoatzin — Name  of  King. 

40  Tshtartl — Name  of  goddess. 
41'  Itzmal — Name  of  city. 

42  Maayha — Land  without  water. 

43  Meconetzin — Name  of  Prince    (signifying   son    of 
Maguey). 

44  Maxtlatzin — Name  of  brother  of  King  Tecpantcal- 
zin. 

45  Mayapan — Name  of  kingdom. 

46  Miquahuitl — A  horrible  weapon. 

47  Maguey — Agave,  or  Aloe. 

48  Neithtl — Goddess  of  weaving. 

49  Nouhyotl— Last  Toltec  King. 


APPENDIX.  297 

50  Osiristl — Judge  of  the  dead. 

51  Octli — Pulque,  (A  Mexican  drink,  or  beverage). 

52  Popocatapetl — Volcanic  Mountain  of  Mexico  which 
furnished  the  first  sacrificial  blade  of  obsidian. 

53  Papantzin — Toltec  General. 

54  Ptahtl — God  of  creation. 

55  Panuco — Name  of  River. 

56  Palenque — Name  of  city. 

57  Palpan — Heights  (Hill  of  Guadelupe,  Mexico  City). 

58  Pochotl— Toltec  Soldier. 

59  Quinimas — Race  of  giants. 

60  Quetzalcohuatl — "Toltec  Savior,"  also  Evening  Star. 
The  name  signifies  great  high-priest  and  ruler  over  the 
Continent. 

6 1  Quetzalpetlatzin — Wife  of  the  Toltec  Savior. 

62  Quachictin — Chichimeca  General. 

63  Ratl — A  Sun  God;  also  Tezcatlipoca. 

64  Shentl — Path  to  the  sun. 

65  Sekhetl — Sun  flame;  also  Tonacatexuhtli. 

66  Tezcatlipoca — Sun-god  and  Victim  to  the  Sun  God. 

67  Tezcatliquina — Moon  Goddess. 

68  Tollan— Toltec  Kingdom. 

69  Thothtl— Scribe  of  the  Gods. 

70  Toloache — Datura  Stramonium  (Loco  weed). 

71  Tulha — Name  of  city. 

72  Tsequil — Name  of  city. 

73  Topiltzin — Famous  General. 

74  Tepetlacalli — Marble  Sarcophagus. 

75  Teohuehuetl — War  alarm. 

76  Tezcocans — Name  of  a  nation. 

77  Tezcuco — Lake. 


298  APPENDIX. 

78  Tenochititlan — King  of    Chichimecas,    and   Capital 
City. 

79  "Tihui,  Tihui"— "Let  us  go." 

80  Titzli — Sacred  black  beans. 

81  Tlacateco — Inner  sanctuary. 

82  Tlacatecatl — Culhuaca  General. 

83  Tlacachtli — Weapon  of  war. 

84  Teohuacan — Name  of  Province. 

85  Tetlilicuan — Name  of  Kingdom. 

86  Tahuautinsyu — Peru. 

87  Tyzompantli — Receptacle  for  human  heads. 

88  Tilmatli— Robe  for  King. 

'89  Teponaztli — Musical  instrument. 

90  Teoamoxtli — Toltec  history. 

91  Tollantzingo — Capital  City  of  the  Toltecs. 

92  Tecpantcaltzin — Name  of  Toltec  King. 

93  Tlaloc — God  of  rain. 

94  Tlapallan — Name  of  Province. 

95  Toltec — Name  signifying  the  builders. 

96  Xochimilcas — Name  of  a  nation. 

97  Xolotli — A  scout,  or  runner. 

98  Xinhtlatzin — The  name  of  a  Queen. 
09  Xaltocan — Province. 

100  Xochiquetzalli — Goddess  of  love. 

1 01  Xochitl — Toltec  maiden  who  discovered  Octli  {Pul- 
que). 

102  Yuca — Incas  of  Peru. 

103  Zantzintl — Guard  of  the  Golden  Garden. 

104  Zamna — Prince  who  ruled  under  Votan. 


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A.  S.  Roe's  Novels. 


"There  is  no  writer  of  the  present  day  who  excels  A.  S.  Roe,  in  Ma  partionlnr  Kn» 
Of  fiction.  He  is  distinguished  by  his  fidelity  to  nature,  his  freedom  from  affectation, 
bis  sympathy  with  the  interests  of  everyday  existence  and  his  depth  and  siooefity  of 

£6BXXH,g. 


His  stories  appeal  to  the  heart,  and  strengthen  and  refresh  it." 

True  to  the  Last 

A  Long  Look  Ahead. .     .  . 
The  Star  and  the  Cloud. . . 


$i  ooITo  Love  and  to  be  Loved. .  .$ 
oo  Time  and  Tide . . 


I've  Been  Thinking 

How  Could  He  Help  it?.    .. 


oo  Woman  Our  Aagel 
oo  Looking  Around. 


00  The  Cload  on  the  Heart .... 

001  Resolution.. 


oo 

00 
00 

oo 

09 


G.    W.  DILUNGMAM  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


Arthur  Henry  Veysey. 


6r.  Veysey's  mode  of  expression  shows  the  spirit  and  faculty  of  an 

r  of  developing  an  idea  and  leading  up  to  a  situation  is  boldly  dramatic  and  at 
Mae  originality." 


A  Pedigree  in  Pawn $i  2$ 

Hats  Off I  3$ 


Cheque  for  Three  Thousand.$ I  oo 
The  Two  White  Elephants..  I  25 
The  Stateroom  Opposite. . .  I  25 

Wm.  Le  Queux. 

"  Since  the  day  of  Wilkie  Collins  there  has  not  been  a  writer  able  to  keep 
fery  as  cleverly  as  William  Le  Queux.  He  possesses  the  art  of  weaving 
fin*  enthral  the  reader  to  the  last  page" 

If  Sinners  Entice  Thee $i   50  The  Day  of  Temptation $i  50 

The- Bond  of  Black i   50  The  Secrets  of  Monte  Carlo  I  oo 

Josh  Billings. 

His  Complete  Writings,  Biography  with  100  Illustrations $2  oo> 

Artemus  Ward. 

Complete  Comic  Writings— Revised  Edition,  with  28  full  page 

Illustrations  and  Photogravure  Frontispiece $2  oo 

Celia  E.  Gardner's  Novels. 

"  Miss  Gardner's  works  are  becoming  more  and  more  popular  every  year,  and  their 
will  ooBtianue  to  be  popular  long  after  many  of  our  present  favorite  writers  axe  tar. 


Stolen  Waters  (In  verse). .  .$i   sojRich  Medway $i  50 


Broken  Dreams 
Compensation 
A  Twisted  Skein 
Tested  . 


I  50 A  Woman's  Wiles I 

I  50  Terrace  Roses I 

i  50  Seraph — or  Mortal i 

I  50! Won  Under  Protest  (New) .  i 


50 
50 

50 

50 


Captain  Mayne  Reid's  Works. 


"Captain  Mayne  Beid's  works  are  of  an  intensely  interesting  and  fascimattae 
Ohaeaeter.  Nearly  all  of  them  being  founded  upon  some  historical  event,  they  possess 
a  permanent  value  while  presenting  a  thrilling,  earnest,  dashing  ftetiou  surpassed  by 
no  nove*  ol  the  day." 


Ta«  Scalp  Hunters $i 

The  Rifle  Rangers 

Tbe  War  Trail 

Tbe  Wood  Rangers. ...... 

The  Wild  Huntress 

The  Maroon 

The  Headless  Horseman. . . 
Rangers  a«d  Regulators. . . . 


oo  The  White  Chief $i  oo 

oo  The  Tiger  Hunter. 

oo  The  Hunter's  Feast 

oo  Wild  Life 

oo  Osceola,  the  Seminole .... 

oo  The  Quadroon 

oo  The  White  Gauntlet. 

oo;  Lost  Leonore 


oo 

00 
00 
00 

oo 

00 
00 


£.   *K.  DILUNGHAM  COSS  PUBLICATIONS. 


11  Brick"  Pomeroy's  Works. 

The  versatility  of  genius  exhibited  by  this  author  has  won  for  him  a  world- wide 
n  as  a  facetious  and  a  strong  writer.  One  moment  replete  with  the  most 
pathos,  and  the  next  full  of  fun,  frolic  and  sarcasm." 


Sense — A  serious  book $i  oo 

Gold  Dust I  oo 

Oar  Saturday  Nights I  oo 


Nonsense — A  comic  book.  .$i  oo 
Brick  Dust  "          . .   i  oo 

Home  Harmonies. . .      .....   I  oo 


Allan  Pinkerton's  Works. 

"  The  mental  characteristics  of  Allan  Pinkerton  were  judgment  as  to  facts,  knowl. 
edge  of  men,  the  ability  to  concentrate  his  faculties  on  one  subject,  and  the  persistent 
power  of  wilL  A  mysterious  problem  of  crime,  against  which  his  liie  was  devoted,  pre- 
sented to  his  thought,  was  solved  almost  in  an  instant,  and  seemingly  by  his  intuitions. 
With  half-closed  eyes  he  saw  the  scene  in  which  the  wrong  was  done,  read  every 
movement  of  the  criminals,  and  reached  invariably  the  correct  conclusion  as  to  their 
conduct  and  guilt." 


Expressman  and  Detectives.$ 

Mollie  Maguires,  The 

Somnambulist,  The. 

Claude  Melnotte 

Criminal  Reminiscences. . . . 

Railroad  Forger,  The 

Bank  Robbers 

A  Double  Life 

Gjrfsies  and  Detectives 


oo  Spiritualists  and  Detectives.. $ 
oo  Model  Town  and  Detectives, 
oo  Strikers,  Communists,  etc. . 

oo  Mississippi  Outlaws 

oo  Bucholz  and  Detectives 

oo  Burglar's  Fate,  The 

oo  Professional  Thieves 

oo  Spy  of  the  Rebellion,  The., 
oo  Thirty  Years  a  Detective. . .. 


oo 
oo 

00 

oo 

oo 

00 
00 


Mansfield  Tracy  Walworth's  Novels. 

M  Mr.  Walworth's  novels  are  brilliant,  scholarly  and  absorbing,  and  reveal  great 
gBV/er  in  the  portraiture  of  character." 


Warwick $i   50  Delapl 

Hotspur i  50 

Lulu ' i 

Sftorrncliff. i  50 


ame $i  50 

Beverly I  50 

SoZahara i  50 


Ernest  Kenan's  and  other  Theological  Works. 

"  There  is  through  all  the  works  of  Benan  a  pathos  that  stirs  the  mind  to  its  inmost 
depths,  his  power  of  fletton  is  wondrous  sweet  and  strong,  his  ardent  adoration  of  soaat* 
thing  indefinite,  dreamy,  ideal,  takes  our  hearts  And  our  senses  captive." 

The  Life  of  Jesus |i  75|The  Unknown  Life  of  Christ 

Lives  of  the  Apostles i  75     — by  Notovitch $i  50 

The  Life  of  St.  Paul i  75  Inside  the  Church  of  Rome — 

Jacolliot  2  ool     By  the  Nun  of  Kenmare..  I  75 


